A day after Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh talked about free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown’s status with the league, the All-Pro receiver finally received his punishment. According to a press release from the NFL, Brown has been suspended for the first eight games of the 2020 season due to multiple violations of the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.
After a viral video showed Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson working out with Brown earlier this offseason, Baltimore has received plenty of questions about the potential of signing the talented but troubled wide receiver. Jackson renewed the talk on Wednesday after talking about Brown’s work ethic during the workout and saying he still wishes the team signs him. Harbaugh noted the team looks at every player, Brown included. However, Harbaugh also noted Brown as being unavailable to sign due to his placement on commissioner Roger Goodell’s exempt list pending an investigation into sexual assault accusations.
Brown played in just one game with the New England Patriots last season, after a tumultuous offseason that included being on three separate teams and several legal woes. Brown was initially traded by the Pittsburgh Steelers to the then-Oakland Raiders. Several incidents including a burn on his foot from cryotherapy, issues over the type of helmet he could use, and threatening to punch general manager Mike Mayock caused Brown to be released, where he was then free to sign with New England. That deal only lasted until after Week 2 of the 2019 season before the Patriots cut him following a lawsuit that alleged Brown sexually assaulted a former personal trainer.
That wasn’t all of Brown’s legal troubles last year, however. He recorded himself screaming at police in front of his kids at his own home over a domestic dispute with the mother of his children. Brown also pleaded no contest to assault charges after an incident with a moving company.
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