For a brief moment late Thursday night, it appeared that Brandon Browner had signed a contract with the New England Patriots. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, who is typically an incredibly reliable source, reported that Brown had reached a two-year agreement with the Pats. Browner’s agent, Peter Schaffer, was infuriated by the report.
Schaffer’s reason for being angry was one of the best you will ever hear. He claimed that Browner had not reached a deal with any team and was still weighing his options. More importantly, the allegedly false report interrupted Schaffer’s adult league hockey game.
“It’s 100 percent untrue,” agent Peter Schaffer told Pro Football Talk after the report surfaced. “I’ve got four teams to negotiate with. I’ve got irresponsible journalists who don’t check their facts putting this stuff out there, and my phone is blowing up when I’m trying to play hockey.
“I’ve got very little patience for irresponsible journalists who put this stuff out and ruin my night. My phone is going nuts. I just wanna play hockey.”
How classic is that? When my wife nags me from now on, my response is going to be that “I just wanna play hockey.”
As for the report of Browner signing with the Pats, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported on Thursday night that he had not signed a contract with any team. Adam Schefter confirmed that on Friday morning, noting that Browner plans to visit Washington and New Orleans while Schaffer negotiates with New England and the Oakland Raiders.
Rapoport later added that Browner had spread the word to those who are close to him that he had signed with the Patriots. He’s not the type of reporter who would throw mud at the wall and hope it sticks, so he must have spoken to a credible source. I’d be surprised if Browner doesn’t end up in New England.
