Brown suspended 8 games for personal conduct policy violations

The NFL has suspended free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown eight games for violations of its personal conduct policy, the league announced Friday.

The ban will begin Sept. 5 and end after eight games regardless of whether he is on a team. Brown will be eligible to participate in training camp up until that date should any club sign him.

Brown's agent said the receiver won't appeal the suspension and is "excited" to continue his career:

Brown's discipline is related to the threatening text messages he sent a woman who accused him of sexual misconduct and to his January altercation with a moving truck driver, a source told the Boston Globe's Ben Volin. The woman cited a 2017 incident when she was working as an artist in his house, while Brown allegedly attacked the driver after an argument over fees; Brown later pleaded no contest to a battery charge.

The NFL is still investigating the rape lawsuit brought forth by Brown's former personal trainer in September 2019, and could suspend him again pending its findings, a source told Mark Maske of The Washington Post. Brown has maintained any sexual interaction with the woman was consensual.

Brown played in only one game last season - Week 2 for the New England Patriots - due to problems off the field. He began last season with the Raiders, now of Las Vegas, but was released before the season after clashing with the organization.

A seven-time Pro Bowler, Brown has been linked to the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks throughout the offseason. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said Wednesday he's "still hoping" Brown lands in Baltimore.

The 32-year-old was on a Hall of Fame trajectory over the first nine years of his career, all of which he played with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He led the NFL in receiving in 2014 and 2017 and topped the league in touchdown receptions in 2018.