Antonio Brown Working out for the Saints and the Potential Reason Why
The former disgruntled Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots star wide receiver has been out of the league for several months now as a result of an ongoing sexual abuse allegation that leading to his ultimate dismissal.
Since his exit during the height of his career, Brown has been incredibly vocal, and not in a positive way. He has personally criticized players, coaches, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and the league as a whole.
His comments that he would never play for the NFL again all seem humorous as Brown has now apologized and is asking for a second chance, or hundredth chance if you're really counting.
A Heartfelt Apology?
After criticizing everyone and their mother in the NFL for why he has been released and effectively blackballed from joining any team, he has come out and issued a formal apology.
"To the organizations that I offended, I offer my sincere apology to you and my hope is that you forgive me and help me move on from this minor setback," Brown wrote. "I look forward to competing and helping a team reach their goals."
He further added, "... I do know that if I’m ever given the opportunity to play the game that I love, I’m going to work extremely hard to show the world how much I appreciate another chance."
Working out for the New Orleans Saints
While it seems that there is no possibility of him playing at any point this season, he has mysteriously been given an opening by an unlikely source.
According to reports, Brown is working out for the New Orleans Saints, a move that is puzzling, to say the least. It's no guarantee that he'll even receive a contract offer from the organization, but it is worth noting that he is at least performing some drills for them.
The real question is why the Saints, who are in the running to lock up the number one seed in the NFC, would entertain the likes of Brown who is known as a trouble-maker and could ultimately be a distraction in any locker room.
Replacement for Michael Thomas?
One possible theory that is being postulated stems from reports that current star wide receiver for the Saints, Michael Thomas, is dealing with a hand injury that has kept him out of much of practice this week as the team prepares for the Carolina Panthers.
Despite this theory, ESPN is reporting that Thomas's hand injury has nothing to do with Brown working out for the Saints. If anything, it's simply a matter of the organization accessing their options ahead of their playoff run.
But even if the Saints sign Antonio Brown to a contract, he may still be unable to play at any point during the remainder of the season.
No Guarantee of Playing This Season
Due to the nature of the ongoing investigation into the sexual assault allegations that are tied to Brown, he could be placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List, which prohibits players from participating in team activities during such ongoing investigations or player conduct analyses.
If he does get a contract, however, it could spell danger for the Saints and their current dynamics within the locker room. But maybe, just maybe, Brown will learn that he needs to clean up his act and become more of a team player. His talent is undeniable, but his attitude and baggage overshadow his physical abilities. We'll have to wait and see what transpires as this situation unfolds.
