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So much for suspension: Jon Gruden tells media Antonio Brown will play Monday

When news came on Thursday that the Oakland Raiders were “planning” to suspend receiver Antonio Brown for the team’s Monday night opener against the Denver Broncos and it wasn’t immediately followed by news that he was, in fact, suspended, some of us got suspicious.

As the hours passed and Friday dawned and Brown still hadn’t been suspended, it seemed unlikely he would.

Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden, left, said wide receiver Antonio Brown will play on Monday night after a report that he might be suspended. (AP)
Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden, left, said wide receiver Antonio Brown will play on Monday night after a report that he might be suspended. (AP)

Sure enough, on Friday afternoon, after reports of an “emotional apology” in front of the team from Brown, coach Jon Gruden told media that Brown will play on Monday.

Look, Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock can run Oakland however they see fit, but anyone who has parented a preschooler knows that Brown’s apology wasn’t because he’s truly sorry; it was because he stood to lose something he wanted – in this case, the $30 million in guaranteed money he hasn’t yet received from the Raiders.

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But if you let Brown do everything he’s done (that we know of) over the past few weeks without real repercussions, do you expect things to get better?

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