Report: Buccaneers bringing back WR Antonio Brown on 1-year deal
The Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reportedly bringing back wide receiver Antonio Brown on a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Once Brown’s legal issues were wrapped up, the #Bucs stepped in to close the deal. His goal was always to play again with Tom Brady, and now its official. https://t.co/HMMeFixGr5
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 28, 2021
The deal is reportedly worth $3.1 million guaranteed, but Brown could earn up to $6.25 million.
Antonio Brown’s one-year deal with the #Bucs is worth up to $6.25 million with $3.1M fully guaranteed, including a $2M signing bonus, per his agent @ed_waz of @EMGSportsAgents.
A nice payday for the seven-time Pro Bowl WR -- and a chance to help Tampa Bay go for two.— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 28, 2021
Brown, 32, returned to the NFL in 2020 after appearing in just one game in 2019. He was suspended for eight games in July 2020 for multiple violations the NFL's personal conduct policy after he'd been accused of rape and sexual assault by several woman, and one of them, his former trainer Britney Taylor, had sued him. Brown also allegedly sent intimidating text messages to one of his accusers.
Brown settled the civil suit with Taylor in mid-April, which reportedly set the stage for the Buccaneers to bring him back.
Once Brown’s legal issues were wrapped up, the #Bucs stepped in to close the deal. His goal was always to play again with Tom Brady, and now its official. https://t.co/HMMeFixGr5
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 28, 2021
In eight games with the Buccaneers, Brown made 45 catches for 483 yards and scored four touchdowns. He also scored a touchdown in the Bucs' Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Stability with Buccaneers
If all goes according to plan, this will be the first time Brown has started the season on time and with the same team he ended it with since 2018. He spent the first nine seasons of his career as a standout with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the relationship had become strained by the end of the 2018 season. He was benched in Week 17 after reportedly skipping practice, and had gotten into fights with teammates.
The Steelers traded him to the Las Vegas Raiders in March 2019, but things took a bizarre turn not long after he arrived to training camp in a hot air balloon. He was sidelined after hurting his feet during a cryotherapy session, and then filed a grievance with the NFL after he was told he could no longer wear his preferred helmet due to safety regulations. Brown also reportedly had a confrontation with general manager Mike Mayock over fines, and asked for his release shortly after.
On the same day he was released, Brown signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots. He would end up playing just one game with them before being released again due to additional sexual assault allegations coming to light. He did not play for the rest of the 2019 season.
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