Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians recently said he didn’t want Antonio Brown‘s murky future to be a distraction on Sunday before facing rival New Orleans.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport took care of that distraction for fans at least on Sunday, Dec. 19, with his report that Brown will return from suspension on Monday, Dec. 20, according to sources. The same holds for Bucs safety Mike Edwards, who also got suspended three games with Brown due to fake COVID-19 vaccine cards.
Rapoport’s report doesn’t contradict anything Arians said during a Dec. 17 press conference where the coach wouldn’t tip his cap either direction.
“It’s just a matter of making a statement, and whether I do it before this game or after, we’ll wait and see,” Arians told the media. “But I don’t want anything distracting from this game.”
Rapoport’s news also doesn’t contradict Brown’s hint on Instagram from on Dec,. 17. Brown’s post featured a picture of himself at the Bucs training facility, shared via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
If you’re wondering what the decision on Antonio Brown will be, he posted this photo of himself at the Bucs indoor facility on Instagram today.
It matches Rapoport’s information.
“A source explained that Brown and Edwards have been attending meetings and working out in the facility, all the activities they are allowed to do under the suspension,” Rapoport wrote. “The team wanted to see how they responded during the time away, and it appears it was more than enough.”
Rapoport added that Edwards also had an Instagram video of himself at the Bucs’ facility.
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Arians Casted Doubt About Brown’s Return
Doubt of Brown’s future festered because of Arians’ statements in 2020 about the Bucs’ zero-tolerance for misbehavior by Brown when he signed with the team. Arians notably told Pro Football Talk’s Peter King, arguably the most blunt statement of all regarding that in 2020 after Brown’s signing.
“He screws up one time, he’s gone,” Arians told King. “I don’t think he will because he wants to play.”
Arians also didn’t share the most promising statement in a Dec. 14 interview on the “Dan Patrick Show.”
“It could go either way right now. It really could,” Arians told Patrick.
“Just continuing where those two guys are at where the team it at,” Arians added when Patrick asked the basis for the position.
“Could go either way.”
-Coach Bruce Arians discusses Antonio Brown’s future with the #Bucs
For his full appearance: t.co/iH24DiJ4VG
Brown Returning to Action May Last Longer
Brown hasn’t played since Oct. 14 due to an ankle injury, which he sustained against the Philadelphia Eagles. He has 29 receptions for 418 yards and four touchdowns this season. The Bucs notably went 5-0 with him in the lineup.
Because of the Bucs’ 5-3 mark without Brown and his recent injury history, it’s possible the team will keep him “on ice” as Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio puts it. The Bucs could save him for the playoffs and indirectly punish him financially because he couldn’t collect any bonusses with more missed time, Florio wrote.
It’s worth noting that Arians said “no” on Dec. 17 in response to being asked about any further penalties for Brown and Edwards.
Tampa Bay’s defense will benefit from Edwards’ return. He has Three interceptions, a forced fumble, seven pass deflections, and 35 tackles this season.
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NFL Insider Shares Bucs’ Decision on Antonio Brown: Report