Update: Sept. 6, 1:57 p.m.: Antonio Brown will play Monday night in the Raiders' season-opener against the Broncos:
Here’s Jon Gruden on @AB84 being back: pic.twitter.com/3CmrQmwtF8
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) September 6, 2019
"Antonio's back today," Raiders coach Jon Gruden told reporters Friday. "We're really excited about that, ready to move on. He's had a lot of, obviously, time to think about things, and we're happy to have him back."
No suspension. Original story follows.
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OK, so here's what happened between Antonio Brown and Raiders GM Mike Mayock.
Mayock took issue with the fact that Brown posted a picture — with commentary — of a recent fine on Instagram. That led to a dust-up between Brown and Mayock, one that reportedly almost got physical until Vontaze Burfict restrained Brown to save the day.
Yes, Burfict saving the day. That is Alanis Morissette's "Ironic" playing in the distance, indeed.
In that scuffle, Brown reportedly hurled a racial slur toward Mayock before eventually punting a football and saying "fine me for that." The Raiders fully intended to suspend Brown following that incident.
“We’ve been going out to practice every day and we’ve adjusted without him," Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said in a presser Thursday. "We never knew sometimes when he was gonna practice. So we’re good. We’re good at adapting and adjusting. Unfortunately.”
The whole debacle was so severe, some speculated Brown could not only be suspended, but he could lose his guaranteed money — $30.125 million — from his three-year, $50.1 million deal with the Raiders as a result.
Now, however, ESPN's Josina Anderson reports that Brown has changed his tune. He's not punting footballs and mocking his GM. He's apologizing for everything — with Raiders team captains by his side.
Source: #Raiders WR Antonio Brown just issued “an emotional apology” at a team meeting this morning, just now, “with team captains standing with him.”
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 6, 2019
The Raiders open their 2019 season Monday, Sept. 9, against the division-rival Broncos. Obviously, the NFL would love for Brown to play in this game. So while the Raiders initially sounded like they'd hold out their star receiver to let him know his actions wouldn't be tolerated, now there's this:
Here is a sense of how quickly things are changing in Oakland: Yesterday, #Raiders coach Jon Gruden told people AB was not in their plans for Monday. Now, I hear… there is a real chance he not only does not get suspended but actually plays. Wild times
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 6, 2019
So is it a changed man or a man who realized he stepped too far, almost lost everything and instead backtracked on his actions and words, knowing he'd get away with it ... again?
You can decide on that.
For now, stay tuned to see if the Raiders do in fact suspend Brown for the season opener.
