Antonio Brown is trying to find a way to get his feet healed so he can get back to practicing with the Oakland Raiders, and apparently he is also having an issue with his head.
Brown is looking to wear a helmet this season that the NFL does not allow and has filed a grievance against the league over it, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. He is expected to have a hearing in front of an arbitrator next week, at which point a determination will be made on whether or not he can wear his preferred helmet.
The helmet Brown wants to wear is one he has worn throughout his career, but it is no longer certified by the National Operating Committee for Standards and Athletic Equipment as of this year. The NFL’s policy states that players cannot wear helmets not certified by the NOCSAE, and the NOCSAE does not certify helmet models that are more than 10 years old.
Brown has been away from the Raiders while he figures out how to deal with blisters and peeling on the bottom of his feet, but Schefter says some of his sources wonder if his absence could have to do with the helmet issue as well.
It’s unclear how long Brown’s feet will take to heal, but it sounds like the injury is one that could have been avoided. The Raiders are hoping he has the feet problems and helmet dispute cleared up in the near future so he can focus on the season.
