Antonio Brown was present at practice with the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday, and head coach Jon Gruden seems confident that the star wide receiver is ready to put all the helmet drama in the rearview.
Following the walkthrough, Gruden told reporters Brown practiced with a certified helmet and has told the team he is “all-in.”
Raiders coach Jon Gruden was asked if Antonio Brown showing means he's all-in, smiled and responded, "Is that some sort of joke? Yeah, he's in, all-in, that's what he said."
On the kind of helmet Brown's wearing, Gruden said, "It's a certified helmet. He's all-in, ready to go."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 20, 2019
Brown needs a certified helmet to be able to take part in practice, so it’s a positive sign that he’s willing to wear one so he can join his teammates in preparing for the season. However, there is no reason to believe he has given up his fight against the league after he filed a second grievance over the helmet issue on Monday.
Brown is adamant about being able to continue wearing the same model helmet he has worn since his rookie year, and he even reportedly tried to trick the Raiders with a bootleg helmet. The situation has been a distraction for weeks, which can’t be sitting well with Gruden or the organization.
