Patriots say NFL investigating allegations that Antonio Brown raped his former trainer
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New England Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown stands accused of raping his former trainer in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in a federal court in Florida.
The New York Times first reported the lawsuit which accuses Brown of three separate incidents of sexual assault and rape against Britney Taylor, a gymnast he met while attending Central Michigan and later hired as his trainer.
The Patriots responded to the lawsuit Tuesday evening in a statement, noting that the NFL is looking into the allegations.
“We are aware of the civil lawsuit that was filed earlier today against Antonio Brown, as well as the response by Antonio’s representatives,” the Patriots statement reads. “We take these allegations very seriously. Under no circumstance does this organization condone sexual violence or assault.
“The league has informed us that they will be investigating. We will have no further comment while that investigation takes place.”
Details of the accusations
The suit alleged that two incidents occurred in June 2017 and another in May 2018.
Brown is accused of exposing himself to Taylor and kissing her without consent during a training visit in his Pittsburgh home in the first incident.
In the second incident, he allegedly masturbated behind her while the two were watching a church service on her iPad in his Miami home and ejaculated on her back.
The suit claims that Brown bragged about that incident in profane text messages that were included in the lawsuit.
She cut off contact with Brown after the 2017 incidents, but agreed to train him again after he assured her the sexual advances would stop, according to the lawsuit.
On May 20, 2018, the lawsuit alleges that Brown pushed Taylor face first into a mattress and “forcibly” raped her in his Miami home after a night out with friends. She screamed “no” and “stop,” but Brown ignored her pleas and penetrated her, according to the lawsuit.
Accuser’s statement
Taylor addressed the lawsuit in a statement provided to the Times by her attorney.
“As a rape victim of Antonio Brown, deciding to speak out has been an incredibly difficult decision,” Taylor said in the statement. “I have found strength in my faith, my family, and from the accounts of other survivors of sexual assault.”
She seeks compensatory and punitive damages “for the significant harm Brown caused by this brutal and sadistic misconduct.”
Brown denies allegations
Brown denied the allegations in a statement from his attorney.
STATEMENT REGARDING ANTONIO BROWN: https://t.co/yvEcRyilbt pic.twitter.com/0K9G8vJeG1
— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) September 11, 2019
“Mr. Brown denies each and every allegation in the lawsuit,” the statement from Darren Heitner reads. “He will pursue all legal remedies to not only clear his name, but to also protect other professional athletes against false accusations.”
Brown reportedly plans to countersue
The statement claims that “any sexual interaction with Mr. Brown was entirely consensual” and that Brown had declined an invitation to invest $1.6 million in “the accuser’s business project.”
“Mr. Brown, whose hard work and dedication to his craft has allowed him to rise to the top of his profession, refuses to be the victim of what he believes to be a money grab,” the statement reads.
ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports that Brown intends to countersue Taylor.
Brown’s tumultuous offseason
Brown agreed to join the Patriots over the weekend after his release from the Oakland Raiders following a tumultuous offseason that resulted in his never playing with the team. He joined the Raiders in the offseason via trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a turbulent breakup with the team he has played his entire NFL career with.
Brown has yet to play for the Patriots, who opened their season Sunday night with a victory over the Steelers. The seven-time Pro Bowler signed a one-year, $15 million deal with New England that reportedly came with a $20 million team option for 2020.
He was expected to join the Patriots this week for their Sunday matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
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Jason Owens is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter.
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