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Might an all-time great WR quit football over a helmet?


Next time on "Hard Knocks" ...

The Antonio Brown saga continues as the Oakland Raiders prepare for the 2019 season.

From head to toe, the seven-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time first-team all-pro Brown has been an aggravation for his new team.

First, according to "PFT Live" co-host Chris Simms, Brown suffered frostbite on his feet after not having proper footwear in a cryogenic machine.

Then, on Friday, a stunning development made the Brown experience even more strange. Brown filed a grievance against the NFL over his helmet. Brown wears a helmet model that is no longer produced, and went so far as to re-paint his Steelers helmet to colors similar to, but not quite matching, those of the Raiders.

Brown is drawing a line in the sand over his preferred hat, saying that if he can't wear his helmet that he would quit football.

For now, Raiders coach Jon Gruden defends the mercurial receiver, saying, "I've got a feeling he would play with no helmet, that's how much he loves to play."

- PHOTOS: Best of the preseason | Cheerleaders | Training camp

Franchise all-time 100 players are here

- As we celebrate the NFL's 100th season, we begin our team all-time 100 players lists with the NFC North. First, the Green Bay Packers -- starting with MacArthur Lane. Next, the Detroit Lions -- beginning with James Stewart. Then, the Chicago Bears -- with No. 100 Eddie Jackson. Finally, we conclude with the Minnesota Vikings -- with Stefon Diggs beginning that countdown. Each day we'll roll out a new division. Next up: the NFC East on Monday.

- Don't forget! 100 greatest teams ever: 1972 Miami Dolphins. 1985 Chicago Bears. 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers. 1962 Green Bay Packers. 1989 San Francisco 49ers. 1920 Akron Pros. Which is the greatest team in league history?

Previously on 'Hard Knocks' ...

Jon Gruden gave an impassioned speech in which he said that he isn't "really into dreams, anymore." An undrafted rookie who also appeared on Netflix's "Last Chance U" got cut. Another rookie, a first-round pick named Johnathan Abram, made quite an impression. Antonio Brown practiced, albeit very briefly.

The next episode airs on HBO on Tuesday at 10 p.m. Check out Paste BN Sports on Wednesday morning for highlights from the show.

Around the league

- Peyton Manning making NFL history fun: With his playing days over, Manning has turned his focus to NFL history with a must-see series honoring some of the greatest unseen moments.

- Sell this script to Hollywood: A player who sweet-talked his way into an NFL tryout scored a touchdown on a punt return in what might be the feel-good moment of the preseason.

- Patrick Mahomes shows off pinpoint accuracy: The reigning NFL MVP can check off another item on his career accomplishments list: drilling a moving drone on the field

- Kicker retires after one preseason game: Jets kicker Chandler Catanzaro has retired from football after a shaky start to training camp

- 2019 record projections: How will each team fare this season? Are the Patriots going to reach another Super Bowl? Paste BN Sports' Nate Davis has the answers.

- Preseason power rankings: From the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots to their AFC East rival, the Miami Dolphins, here's how the teams stack up before the season kicks off for real on Sept. 5.

Dominate your fantasy football draft

- Top 200 overall players for 2019: Your fantasy football draft will be here before you know it (unless you've already had it, and if so, that's just crazy!).

- Position-by-position rankings: Here's more vital information for your fantasy draft prep. Take a look at the top players at each position.

- 5 players to avoid: As you prepare your fantasy draft board, here are five players you might want to reconsider where you select them.

- Follow these tips to win your league: Listen closely to this valuable (and free) fantasy football advice.

NFL preseason Week 2 schedule

Thursday

Philadelphia Eagles at Jacksonville Jaguars, 7 p.m.

New York Jets at Atlanta Falcons, 7:30 p.m.

Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Ravens, 7:30 p.m.

Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Redskins, 7:30 p.m.

Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Friday

Buffalo Bills at Carolina Panthers, 7 p.m.

Chicago Bears at New York Giants, 7:30 p.m. (NFL Network)

Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7:30 p.m. 

Saturday

Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts, 4 p.m. (NFL Network)

New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans, 7 p.m.

Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers, 7:30 p.m. (NFL Network)

Detroit Lions at Houston Texans, 8 p.m.

Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams, 10 p.m. (NFL Network)

Sunday

New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers, 4 p.m. (CBS)

Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings, 8 p.m. (FOX)

Monday

San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

- Complete preseason schedule

Join our NFL Facebook group!

If you've come this far, maybe you're willing to come a little further. Head on over to our NFL Facebook group, The Ruling Off the Field. We could use some good football fans to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders.

Want to keep this football conversation going? Head to Facebook, and/or give a Twitter follow to your friendly neighborhood Paste BN Sports football guy who put together this newsletter, @jimreineking