Antonio Brown’s first offseason with the Oakland Raiders has not been going well, and the nasty blisters he is dealing with on the bottom of his feet are apparently just one issue in a long line of them.
Brown is also in a dispute with the NFL over the league not allowing him to wear a certain model of helmet, ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported on Friday. The helmet issue is said to be a bigger factor in why Brown has been away from the Raiders recently, and the star wide receiver has already caused frustration among his coaches and teammates.
Michael Silver of NFL.com reports that Brown has tried to wear his disallowed helmet to practice multiple times this offseason, and he is furious that the NFL has not made as much of an effort to stop other players — most notably Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers — from wearing the same helmet during workouts. One Raiders player said Brown is “freaking out” about the helmet, while another called the situation “insane.”
16) “He’s still freaking out about it,” said one Raiders player. “He hasn’t been here for awhile, and no one knows where he’s at.” …
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 9, 2019
5) His continued frustration surrounding the situation has created a buzz among teammates and coaches, one of whom referred to the saga as “honestly the most insane thing I have ever heard. I don’t know why it’s so important to him. It doesn’t make any sense.” …
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 9, 2019
Aside from obsessing over the helmet dispute, Brown has also continued with some of the antics that led to him wearing out his welcome in Pittsburgh. Silver reports that Brown has been late to meetings this offseason and often seems distracted during them.
18) Since joining the Raiders, Brown has frustrated his new bosses by showing up late to numerous meetings and by often appearing unfocused in them…
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 9, 2019
19) Brown, according to witnesses, typically glances at the screens of several tablets and his smart phone during meetings, distracting himself by engaging in activities which include perusing his bank accounts and “liking” photos on Instagram…
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 9, 2019
20) Still, according to one source, “the meeting thing isn’t that bad… but the feet, helmet and going dark is an issue.”
(END)— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 9, 2019
The foot problem Brown is dealing with seems legitimate based on the disgusting photo he shared on social media — even if it could have been avoided. As it turns out, the injury is one of many things that have contributed to a frustrating first few months in Oakland for Brown.
