Report: Raiders holding Brown out of opener, haven't decided on suspension
AB's summer of drama is continuing.
The Oakland Raiders are planning to suspend Antonio Brown after the star receiver and general manager Mike Mayock "got into it" Wednesday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The Raiders aren't planning to have Brown for Monday night's opener against the Denver Broncos, sources subsequently told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, though it's unclear whether Brown will be suspended or made inactive. Either way, he's reportedly likely to stay away from the team.
On Tuesday, Brown voiced his displeasure with fines from the team, posting a letter he received from the Raiders on social media. That led to the exchange with Mayock, Schefter added.
Brown was apparently held back by several teammates during the argument, sources told The Athletic's Vic Tafur.
While the altercation didn't get physical, Brown threatened to punch Mayock in the face, according to Rapoport. Brown then punted a ball and invited Mayock to fine him.
The wideout was listed on Thursday's injury report as not participating in practice due to "conduct." Mayock refused to go into detail on the situation in a brief statement.
"Antonio Brown is not in the building today. He won't be practicing," said Mayock, per NBC Sports' Scott Bair." I don't have any more information for you right now."
The pass-catcher was fined $13,950 for missing Oakland's walk-through on Aug. 22 and $40,000 for missing a training-camp practice on Aug. 18.
"When your own team want to hate but there's no stopping me now," Brown wrote when posting the letter containing the fines. "Devil is a lie. Everyone got to pay this year so we clear."
After the first absence, Mayock issued a statement saying the Raiders needed to know if Brown was "all-in or all-out" after an offseason of issues.
Brown signed a three-year deal with the Raiders this offseason following a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The extension contained $30.125 million in guaranteed money - $1 million of which has already been paid to Brown in the form of a signing bonus, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
The remaining $29.125 million could now be at risk as a suspension could void the guaranteed money in Brown's extension, which some around the league believe is Oakland's intention, according to Schefter.
Since joining Oakland, Brown has dealt with frostbitten feet stemming from a cryotherapy chamber mishap and had a public fight with the NFL over his desire to wear his old helmet, which is now banned.
Brown reportedly threatened to retire over the helmet issue, though he later denied doing so. After losing his second helmet grievance against the league, Brown decided to move forward with a newer model.