Antonio Brown has had a tumultuous first offseason with the Oakland Raiders that came to a head when he got into a shouting match with general manager Mike Mayock at practice earlier this week, and it would appear the Pro Bowler is trying to move forward from all of the drama.
ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports that Brown issued an “emotional apology” at a team meeting on Friday morning, and the Raiders’ captains stood by his side while he delivered it.
Source: #Raiders WR Antonio Brown just issued “an emotional apology” at a team meeting this morning, just now, “with team captains standing with him.”
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 6, 2019
Reports from Thursday said Brown will be suspended by the Raiders after he publicly ripped the team for fining him and confronted Mayock at practice, but the team has yet to confirm that. It’s possible Oakland’s brass is still weighing its options, and the apology could help Brown’s cause.
Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said on ESPN’s “Get Up!” Friday morning that Brown has a strong relationship with Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, though he all but confirmed the receiver is currently at odds with Mayock.
“I’m not going to get into his relationship with Mike Mayock, but I will say that we’re hopeful that that will be a good one, as well,” Rosenhaus said. “It has been in the past; it can be in the future.”
It’s unclear if Mayock was present for Brown’s apology on Friday, but it sounds like Brown said some offensive things to the GM when he exploded on him at practice earlier in the week.
The Raiders know their offense needs Brown, but it remains to be seen if they have had enough of his antics. There has been talk that the team could look to void the guarantees in his contract and move on from him.
