FOXBOROUGH, MA – SEPTEMBER 11: Newly-signed New England Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown, wearing the number 1, makes his debut at New England Patriots practice at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on Sep. 11, 2019. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The New England Patriots are traveling to take on the Miami Dolphins, and embattled wide receiver Antonio Brown is on the trip.
Last Saturday, the Oakland Raiders released Antonio Brown. Hours later, he was the newest member of the New England Patriots.
Brown, 31, signed a one-year deal and has practiced with the team throughout the week. However, his status for Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins has been unknown after allegations surfaced on Tuesday evening of sexual assault from his former trainer, Britney Taylor. Taylor’s lawsuit against Brown details three separate alleged instances of such behavior.
However, with Taylor due to speak with NFL officials in the upcoming week, the league has not placed Brown on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. Therefore, Brown is allowed to play this weekend, and according to Michael Giardi of NFL Network, he is on the team plane headed for South Beach.
This doesn’t necessarily mean Brown is going to play. The Patriots could still decide to make him inactive. New England is keeping its options open at least, though, by bringing Brown along.
For head coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots, they may not see a reason to avoid playing him. Brown is available to the team and may ultimately be cleared of any wrongdoing. In the meantime, Brown can help blow out the Dolphins on Sunday. The optics will be ugly for some, but this wouldn’t be the first time (nor will it be the last) a player in a lawsuit or under investigation will suit up for his team.