Opinion: Their marriage annulled, Antonio Brown and Raiders now seek redemption
After all the smiles and kumbayas failed to do the trick, the Oakland Raiders and Antonio Brown finally called it quits.
In a dizzying turn of events, the Raiders announced on Saturday that they have terminated the contract of the controversial wide receiver. The move came just hours after he took to social media once again, called his bosses fake and demanded his release.
If you’re keeping score at home, this latest twist in the saga comes not even 24 hours after coach Jon Gruden told the world that the team and player had hugged it out and were excited to move forward in preparation for Monday night’s season opener against Denver.
Brown’s dismissal also came the night after Brown released a YouTube video that featured a voice-over from a private telephone conversation between Gruden and Brown, recorded by Brown. In that conversation, the coach asked Brown if he wanted to be a Raider and said to “Please stop this (expletive) and just play football.” To that, Brown replied that this was his life. “Ain’t no more games,” Brown said in closing.
There definitely will be no more games – literal or figurative – for Brown with the Raiders.
What really triggered the latest eruption from Brown was the Raiders’ decision to fine him $215,073 for conduct detrimental to the team, which triggered the forfeiture of $29 million in guaranteed money in the contract that he signed in the spring.
Brown wanted no parts of being a week to week player, and the Raiders had no desire to continue this dance with such a mercurial individual. Now that they have released him, the team also could try to recoup some of his $1 million signing bonus. Brown, of course, could try to fight that, however.
Now, Gruden, general manger Mike Mayock and the other members of the Raiders organization will try to re-focus their efforts on orchestrating a winning season. Brown, meanwhile, will try to find another team willing to take a chance on him even after he torched his relationship with two different franchises in a nine-month span.
Things ended poorly for Brown in Pittsburgh, but few, if anyone, could have predicted such a volatile and short-lived time in Oakland. It was only March when Brown addressed the media at his introductory Raiders press conference and said, “I bring accountability. I bring not what I say, what I do. How I approach things. Holding guys accountable.”
RELEASED: Raiders cut disgruntled Brown
WHAT WE KNOW: How Antonio Brown came to be released
But nothing about his last month and a half has indicated that Brown has any understanding of what accountability even means.
He saw nothing wrong with missing practices off and on while trying to fight the NFL’s helmet rules. He saw nothing wrong with missing walkthroughs leading up to the team’s third preseason game. He also saw the initial fine of $54,000 for missing said practices and walkthroughs as unfounded. He thought he could get away with throwing a temper tantrum in which he cursed at Mayock and threw things before teammates restrained him. He thought he could right all wrongs with a talk with Gruden, an apology to his teammates, a brief statement to reporters.
He didn’t understand that consequences were remained possible even though the Raiders told him they still wanted him to be a part of their team. He felt like he has been villainized and sees himself as a victim. Brown said in Saturday morning’s Instagram post that the system failed him.
The system didn’t fail him. Those that bent the rules and made exceptions for him for years simply grew tired of Brown’s perceived entitlement, lack of understanding and appreciation. The Steelers finally had enough after a decade of dealing with Brown’s episodes behind closed doors while publicly maintaining a sense of normalcy.
The Raiders’ patience ran out far sooner.
They definitely tried.
Gruden and Mayock showed their belief in Brown by acquiring him and giving him a new contract and $30 million guaranteed. Throughout the helmet disputes, the Raiders remained patient, giving Brown and his camp to sort things out.
And even after Brown’s blowup with Mayock, when members of Raiders brass met over what to do with the receiver, Gruden maintained a belief in him. Multiple team officials wanted to release Brown then. But Gruden told them he believed he could still get through to Brown, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter.
Thursday night, Gruden hosted Brown at his home and the two talked for hours, those sources said, and player and coach emerged from that discussion with intentions of putting the dysfunction behind them.
On Friday, Gruden and Brown both expressed their excitement for the season, but less than 24 hours later, a hefty fine and another Brown blowup later, the union completely shattered.
“The Raiders have released WR Antonio Brown from the team today,” read Oakland’s press release Saturday – two days before the start of the season. Marriage annulled. Not a single pass caught in the Silver and Black. Not a single game check earned.
What’s next for Brown is anyone’s guess.
“Now that Antonio is a free agent, we are focused on the future and I will immediately work on signing him to a new team,” his agent Drew Rosenhaus said in a statement issued to reporters. “Antonio is looking forward to a new beginning.”
Again.
Some team will likely roll the dice on Brown. He’s too talented for someone to ignore his transgressions while hoping for better luck. His contract won’t come close to resembling the deal he signed in Oakland. But someone will give him a chance because of their desperation to win.
But what’s to say that the next chapter will end any differently than the last two? Brown doesn’t see any error in his ways. So, how can he change the way he carries himself? How can he suddenly grasp accountability?
Speaking of accountability, Gruden has some explaining to do. Thus far, his two biggest moves since assuming control of the Raiders appear to have backfired badly. He shipped dominant pass-rusher Khalil Mack to Chicago rather than sign him to a long-term deal, and as a result, Oakland’s defense struggled mightily, mustering only 13 sacks all year.
Now, his big gamble on Brown has blown up in his face even worse than the Mack decision did. Gruden overestimated his own ability to motivate and inspire, and underestimated the root cause of Brown’s bridge-burning ways in Pittsburgh.
Owner Mark Davis gave Gruden a 10-year, $100 million contract to rescue the franchise from years of losing and dysfunction. But thus far, Gruden hasn’t done much to prove that he can get this thing right. The owner no doubt will question Gruden on his decision-making, if he hasn’t already.
Gruden did do the right thing in admitting that he/Oakland had erred in acquiring Brown. The release says as much. But now he must show that he can build this team the right way – brick by brick, smart pick after smart pick and signing. Not with ill-fitting quick-fix gambles.
There’s a lesson in everything and even though publicly Brown hasn’t suggested as much, hopefully if he does get another chance, he can truly acknowledge his missteps, and hopefully he can surround himself with individuals that will help him maintain his focus and professionalism.
The Raiders avoided a potential disaster of subjecting themselves to another Brown blowup during the regular season. Now, Gruden and Co. must figure out how to take steps towards redemption as well.