As NFL training camps inch closer to opening up, the buzz surrounding Antonio Brown and the Seattle Seahawks continues to swirl.
However, Seahawks fans shouldn’t hold their breath that a signing is imminent.
‘Nothing is close to happening’ between Seahawks and Antonio Brown
Writing about the Seahawks and Brown on Friday, ESPN’s Brady Henderson indicated the team is not going to sign Brown any time soon.
Henderson wrote: “The impression one source gave was that nothing is close to happening with the Seahawks and Brown because of what has to be sorted out in his life first.”
Brown has worked out with Seahawks star quarterback Russell Wilson recently, along with backup Geno Smith. He clearly would love to join Seattle this season, and Wilson has made his desire to add the receiver crystal clear.
Antonio Brown has been in the news for all the wrong reasons
The thing is, Brown is currently embroiled in multiple off-field issues that the NFL has not yet dealt with on a disciplinary level.
He’s been accused of sexual misconduct by two separate women and was busted harassing the second on social media. Brown also recently pleaded “no contest” to assault charges from an incident with a truck driver at his Florida home in January.
There has been much written about his issues, and the latest estimate is that the NFL will likely suspend the star receiver for about half a season.
Stats don’t lie: Antonio Brown is an elite NFL star
The reason the Seahawks, or any other team for that matter, would still have interest in Brown despite his off-field issues, is that he’s exceptionally gifted. In fact, you could easily make the case that he was the NFL’s top receiver before he abandoned the Pittsburgh Steelers at the tail end of the 2018 season and his drama-filled life took center stage.
In 10 career seasons, nine spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the former sixth-round pick out of Central Michigan has put up jaw-dropping stats. Hauling in 841 receptions for 11,263 yards with 75 touchdowns, he’s absolutely dynamic.
This is why the Seahawks may still eventually make a move for Brown, if the risk is minimized. Per Henderson: “The size of the risk would depend on the size of his contract. Because the more guaranteed money it contains, the more punitive it could be in regard to the cap for the team to move on should he fall out of line.”