Antonio Brown is feeling optimistic about signing with a new team soon, and now we might now why. As Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com reports, Brown pleaded no contest today to criminal charges stemming from an incident with a delivery driver in January (Twitter link). That plea was part of a bargain that will allow AB to avoid jail time, and he will instead receive two years of probation to go along with 100 hours of community service and a mandatory psychiatric evaluation.
Brown was facing charges of felony burglary conveyance, misdemeanor battery, and misdemeanor criminal mischief. The delivery driver claimed that Brown assaulted him outside of the receiver’s Florida home during a dispute over payment and removed property from his truck. Brown’s attorney, Carson Hancock, said after the plea deal was formalized that this matter was a civil one for which Brown should not have been criminally charged. He also says it would have been resolved much sooner if not for the pandemic (Twitter link via Wolfe). Hanock’s entire statement may be found here, courtesy of Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.
This is a big step in Brown’s return to the league, but he still has major hurdles to clear. It’s been a long time since we heard anything about the status of the league’s investigation into the multiple sexual assault allegations that have been levied against Brown, and even though the All-Pro wideout was able to avoid serious criminal repercussions for the delivery driver charges, the NFL can still suspend him under its personal conduct policy. Given the nature of those charges and the sexual assault allegations, a suspension certainly appears to be in the offing.
Plus, for all of his on-field talents, Brown has been nothing short of a distraction in recent years even when he’s been employed by a team. All of that will make it tough for a club to pull the trigger, but if and when the league formally announces his punishment, it will be similarly difficult for a playoff-caliber team to wonder what a fresh and properly-motivated Brown could mean for its championship aspirations.
Athlete privilege
Nah homie it’s money, any white guy could have got off without the probation
Any white guy? I agree with the money and most white guys, but not “any”. Beware of absolutes.
Only a Sith deals in absolutes.
Well played Ron
It’s not about white or black here it’s all about the greens
More accurately, it is financial privilege. But because he is a famous athlete, it gets more coverage than a less alluring case where a wealthy person faces less legal punishment because they can afford an excellent attorney.
Like others have said its about money. Browns lawyers would have made the da office eat up so many resources from this one case and with no guarantee on the outcome it’s just easy to offer a plea deal
You’re absolutely right. Even conservative estimates suggest that at least 94% of cases en in plea agreements in State courts and even higher for federal charges.
Doesn’t matter: wherever he goes, his head will overinflate and he’ll be back on social media blasting his new team within a couple of weeks.
Glad he could buy his way out of being a decent human being
how come athletes always get the easy way out. the jury for sports players should be farmers with no electronics
its not about being an athlete, its money. if you had AB’s bank account you could get away with what he does as well.
Exactly.
What a waste of some great talent
Tell that to Harvey Weinstein.
to suggest that an athlete would be able to get out of that many sexual assult charges?
Lots of tractors are self driven by GPS coordinates. Farmers aren’t all hay seeds.
No free reach arounds?
That’s not how the Sixth Amendment works…
Lucky SOB
It’s about affording a decent lawyer. Not even a good or great one. You see people in jail for the same thing but if you can’t afford a decent attorney you could end up with time.
I’m glad they mandated the psych eval. I hope he finds the professional help he needs and can get on a road to mental recovery.
Seriously. It has gotten to the point where it’s more depressing than amusing
Are we sure we want this guy around the community?
Well played, sir.
Maybe he agreed because it wasn’t fully explained? Maybe he thought it was the community who serviced him?
Any “normal” citizen would have a much harsher punishment, but once again crime can be swept away with money. I have little doubt that the state of America today played a part as well….
It will be a real embarrassment if a team picks him up at this stage. Clearly the guy had issues and sadly has no place in the NFL IMO.
Man everyone is getting off easy because of pandemic. My sister’s dui was turned into a reckless driving. Wish I was that lucky.
Hope she learned from it.
I’m just glad this guy is getting a mental evaluation.
So much for his “impending deal” referenced in an earlier post on this site. Fat chance.
Are his chances worse now that he’s resolved some legal issues….?
I don’t think pleading no contest to a crime is “resolving legal issues”… I’m pretty sure making it off of his probation would be resolving his legal issues
I don’t see him making it 2 years