There have been numerous reports that neither the New England Patriots nor the NFL knew about the sexual assault allegations against Antonio Brown before the star wide receiver wound up with his latest team, but one reporter who has done a lot of research into Brown’s personal life finds that impossible to believe.
Robert Klemko of Sports Illustrated, who published a feature this week on the many troubling aspects of Brown’s personal and professional life, believes Bill Belichick knew a lawsuit was coming against Brown when he signed the seven-time Pro Bowler. Brown’s agent Drew Rosenhaus admitted that he and Brown knew the lawsuit was imminent, and Klemko feels Rosenhaus has too good of a relationship with Belichick and the Patriots to withhold that information.
If you think Rosenhaus, given the number of clients he’s had and will have in New England, didn’t tell Belichick about the sexual assault lawsuit coming down the pipeline before they signed Brown, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn you might be interested in.
— Robert Klemko (@RobertKlemko) September 17, 2019
One of Klemko’s followers then speculated that Rosenhaus may have told Belichick the lawsuit was going to be beaten, and Belichick probably knows he can void Brown’s guaranteed money if the allegations turn out to be true. Klemko agreed that a scenario like that would be “completely reasonable.”
Brown and his alleged victim, Britney Taylor, were in confidential legal talks for months prior to the civil suit being filed, which supposedly explains why the Patriots and league were unaware of the allegations. Brown then reportedly rejected a massive settlement proposal, which is why Taylor proceeded with the lawsuit.
There have been a number of reports that make it seem as though the Patriots were genuinely blindsided, but Klemko is not buying them. He’s certainly not alone in that line of thinking.
