Troubled wide receiver Antonio Brown may soon have a new home after all.
On Sunday afternoon, Brown, who has been a free agent since Week 3 when the New England Patriots released him, sent a simple tweet potentially revealing he will have a new team just in time for the postseason.
Who Dat
“Who Dat” is the famous rallying cry for the New Orleans Saints, a team Brown worked out with during the buildup to Week 17. Brown was one of multiple receivers the Saints hosted for a workout with the purpose of upgrading its emergency list at receiver ahead of the playoffs. Another receiver hosted was Maurice Harris, who spent time with the Patriots during the 2019 preseason.
But even if Brown signs with the Saints, the likelihood of him playing a single snap for the rest of the season is slim. The NFL continues to look into Brown’s off-field allegations and lawsuits as part of an investigation into potential misconduct and have indicated they would likely place him on the commissioner’s exempt list while that investigation finishes.
Sean Payton Confirmed Saints Won’t Sign Brown
Though Brown’s workout provided excitement with New Orleans, Saints’ head coach Sean Payton decided not to offer him a contract for the final week of the regular season.
His reasoning, via CBS Sports: “The process is something we take seriously, and it’s important relative to the makeup of the team. We’re doing our homework. I think part of that is credibility we’ve already established. There’s been a number of players that we’ve signed or drafted in years past. Some worked out, some haven’t. I had never met him before so I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to him, just like I did with the other five players.”
The Saints are deep at receiver this season, with Michael Thomas leading the way along with Ted Ginn Jr. and rookie Deonte Harris and Lil’Jordan Humprey. But adding Brown to that mix would provide a lethal one-two punch at the position.
Thomas recently set an NFL record for most receptions in a season, needing just 15 games to set the new mark of 145 and counting to break Marvin Harrison’s previous best. And with a player like Brown who is just as big of a threat on the opposite side, New Orleans would immediately be a Super Bowl favorite.
Brown’s Future in Doubt
With such a history of causing problems off the field and even within the locker room, many teams may be hesitant to take a chance on Brown. His talent is second-to-none and he is arguably one of the most talented receivers in the game today.
But most NFL teams feel his problems outweigh his generational talent. Though he has taken responsibility for his actions, Brown still poses a risk to create controversy.
There have also been reports Brown may face a future suspension for his actions once the investigation concludes, another thing that could deter teams from signing him for next season.
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Antonio Brown Tweet Could Reveal Receiver’s New NFL Team