TSR Sports: Whew! The plot thickens in the ongoing turmoil between Antonio Brown and the Oakland Raiders. Earlier this week we reported Brown was fined nearly $54,000 for missing two practices and Brown shared a letter he received from Raiders General Manager Mike Mayock about the fines along with an ominous message.
Things after that apparently got real between Brown and Mayock when Brown reportedly confronted Mayock about the fines before Wednesday’s practice.Sources at the scene say it turned into a heated argument and Brown allegedly called Mayock “a cracker,” during the dispute.
This morning, Brown reportedly issued an “emotional apology” to his teammates, avoiding a team suspension for his behavior, CBS Sports reports. Keep in mind, Brown not only was at risk of getting suspended but he also risked losing $29 million of his $30 million contract if the Raiders would have released him before Sunday.
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Now during the argument between Brown and Mayock, sources said the Mayock remained cool and tried to diffuse the situation as Brown wanted an explanation for the fines.
“[Mayock] was like, ‘I’m cool, I understand your displeasure,'” the source told Josina Anderson. “[Mayock] sort of just like … just walked away because he saw it escalate.”
The source added that while the argument got real, it never appeared to be getting physical. It reportedly ended after several players, including linebacker Vontaze Burfict, attempted to separate Brown from Mayock.
That altercation led to the team’s plan to suspend Brown, who was not at the Raiders’ facility on Thursday.
While the Raiders continue to weigh their options with Brown, Oakland’s captains have reportedly told head coach Jon Gruden that they will support whatever he and the team decide to do. Despite his continued controversy, Raiders’ captains reportedly told Gruden that they like Brown and would welcome him back on the team.
Later Friday Gruden reportedly told reporters that Brown will be playing for the Raiders in Week 1 against the Broncos next week.
The source told Anderson that, despite Brown’s distractions, he continues to show great work ethic, the kind that led to him achieving All-Pro status in Pittsburgh.
“Nobody works as hard,” the source said of Brown. “Nobody loves the game as much, but [it] seems like there is something that is distracting him from his love that [he] can’t control.”
Roommates, what are your thoughts on Antonio Brown’s situation? Let us know.
