Report: Antonio Brown files another grievance over helmet issue

August 19, 2019

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Antonio Brown really seems to be stuck on his helmet issue and unwilling to take “no” for an answer.

On Monday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that Brown filed another grievance with the NFL over his helmet. Rapoport says Brown is arguing he should have a 1-year grace period to phase out the use of his helmet.

Source: #Raiders WR Antonio Briwn has filed another grievance against the NFL, arguing that he should be afforded the same right provided to other NFL players to have a 1-year grace period to phase out his helmet in 2019 season. He claims the NFL is arbitrarily applying rules.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 20, 2019

The NFL gave players a 1-year grace period to phase out the use of banned helmets that failed to meet a safety standard in lab testing. That grace period was last season, and players like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers complained about the new helmets then. Veterans like Brady, Rodgers and Larry Fitzgerald have made the switch to new helmets to comply with safety standards agreed to by the league and players’ association.

The helmet Brown wears, Schutt Air XP Advantage, failed in testing and has been discontinued by Schutt. However, it was not banned as of last year, which is part of the basis of Brown’s argument to receive a grace period. Brown was looking to find a newer helmet of the same model and exploit a loophole in the NFL’s rule, but the NFL changed the rule. That is likely the basis of Brown’s complaint about the league arbitrarily applying rules.

Brown filed an initial grievance with the NFL over the helmet matter earlier this month. His case was turned down by an arbitrator last week.

Just how passionate is Brown over the matter? He reportedly tried to trick the Raiders with a bootleg helmet, and there was even a report saying he was refusing to play without it.

Even though Brown, who is entering his first season with Oakland, reported to the team for activities on Monday, filing another grievance shows he is still hung up on the matter.