Tom Brady has shown public support for Antonio Brown on numerous occasions, whether it’s through social media activity or telling reporters he prides himself on establishing close relationships with all of his former and current teammates. To think that Brown would factor into Brady’s impending free agency decision would sound a bit farfetched, but apparently the quarterback wants to play with Brown again.
Two sources close to Brown told ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler that Brady has kept in “constant contact” with the troubled receiver and told Brown he wants to play with him in 2020. One of Brown’s attorneys said Brady has encouraged Brown to remain physically and mentally strong so the two have an opportunity to join forces again next year wherever Brady ends up.
It seems highly unlikely that Brady would make a career decision based upon what Brown does or what the NFL allows the 31-year-old to do, and it’s important to note that the information in ESPN’s report came from Brown’s camp. However, the New England Patriots almost certainly would not be interested in re-signing Brown, which is noteworthy if Brady truly is determined to play with A.B. again.
Brown’s former trainer and friend Britney Taylor filed a sexual assault lawsuit against him earlier this year, and another woman later accused the seven-time Pro Bowler of sexual misconduct. The Patriots cut Brown back in September after he sent text messages to the second alleged victim that could be interpreted as threatening in nature.
Even if Brady believes Brown’s side of the story — whatever that may be — with the sexual assault allegations, the trouble doesn’t end there for the Pro Bowler. Brown has since been charged with burglary with battery after he and his trainer, Glenn Holt, allegedly attacked a moving truck driver. Brown also streamed a live video on Instagram that showed him berating police officers in front of his children.
Brady may consider Brown a friend and want to help him, but it’s hard to imagine Brady attaching his future to a player who has has that much baggage.
