Jaguars’ Jalen Ramsey Still Wants Trade
If you’re playing hookie from work today, you’re not alone. Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey says he will not practice today, or perhaps anytime this week, due to having the flu, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Pro Bowler, he hears, still wants a trade, though the Jaguars still want to keep him. 
Things seemed to be trending in a positive direction late last week – Jags owner Shad Khan reportedly is willing to make Ramsey the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL and the team has made an effort to smooth things over with the soon-to-be 25-year-old. However, things haven’t changed on the other side of the table. Ramsey still wants to be elsewhere, even after helping his team to a Thursday night win over the Titans.
The Chiefs, some say, will make a strong push for Ramsey. They won’t be alone – nearly every team in the league wants to acquire the superstar defender.
Jordan Reed’s Career In Doubt
Redskins tight end Jordan Reed has tremendous talent, but he can never seem to stay healthy. The one-time Pro Bowler has not played a snap in 2019 due to a concussion, and he has already been ruled out of Washington’s Week 3 contest against the Bears.
And as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports, Reed’s career is very much in jeopardy. The 29-year-old has suffered numerous concussions throughout his career, and while it’s difficult to determine the exact number, his long-term health is obviously cause for concern.
For his part, Reed would like to continue playing, but it’s possible that he will not be cleared to do so. As Schefter writes, the more time that passes without Reed coming back, the less likely it is he returns.
Reed is under contract through 2021 thanks to a five-year, $46.75MM extension he signed in May 2016. That came on the heels of a 2015 campaign in which the Florida product came just shy of posting 1,000 receiving yards and scored 11 touchdowns. His numbers were not quite as breathtaking in 2016 (66 catches for 686 yards and six TDs), but he did make his only Pro Bowl that year.
Reed suffered his latest concussion during the Redskins’ third preseason game in August.
Antonio Brown Says He’s Done With The NFL
Embattled wide receiver Antonio Brown took to Twitter this morning to announce that he will not be playing in the NFL anymore. Brown said:
“Will not be playing in the @NFL anymore these owners can cancel deals do whatever they want at anytime we will see if the @NFLPA hold them accountable sad they can just void guarantees anytime going on 40m 2 months will see if they pay up!”
In a follow-up tweet, Brown threw shade on Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who was infamously involved in a prostitution sting earlier this year. Brown said, “Kraft got caught in the parlor AB speculations fired different strokes different folks clearly.”
He then went completely nuclear and tweeted headlines from older news stories concerning sexual assault and rape allegations levied against Ben Roethlisberger and Shannon Sharpe, both of whom obviously still have prominent roles in and around the league (Twitter links). He also seemed to offer support for Patriots fans who were making death threats against Robert Klemko, the Sports Illustrated reporter who broke the story regarding Brown’s second accuser (Twitter link).
By now, most everyone is familiar with the Brown drama, and as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network observes, it sounds as if Brown just got the news that the Patriots will not be paying him the $9MM signing bonus that he agreed to when he signed with New England (Twitter link). The first $5MM of that bonus was due to be paid tomorrow, and as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com wrote in a story that was published before Brown’s tweet, the Pats were not expected to cut that check. As a result, Brown will be filing a grievance, as ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports (via Twitter).
Of course, just because the mercurial Brown says he’s done with the NFL doesn’t mean he actually is. While it seems unlikely that he will sign with another team this year — especially since the NFL could put him on the commissioner’s exempt list as soon as he signs — all it takes is one club to roll the dice. By signing Brown, a team may be paying him to sit on the exempt list, but that team would also be securing his rights if and when he comes off of that list. On the other hand, Brown’s latest tirade has led to at least 10 head coaches and/or GMs saying that their team owners will not touch Brown, whom they consider radioactive (Twitter link via Jason Cole of Bleacher Report).
For now, the NFL’s investigation into the accusations of sexual assault and rape made against Brown is ongoing. Rapoport observes that the league has concluded its meeting with Brown’s second accuser.
Pelissero notes in a separate tweet that the NFLPA is indeed prepared to represent Brown in his battle to recoup his “lost” funds. Meanwhile, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that, despite speculation to the contrary, the XFL is not interested in Brown.
NFL Won’t Stop Antonio Brown From Playing
The NFL won’t place embattled Antonio Brown on the Commissioner’s exempt list. At least, not while he’s a free agent. The NFL released the following statement regarding Brown on Friday night: 
[RELATED: Seahawks No Longer Interested In Brown]
“Antonio Brown was released today by the New England Patriots and is currently an unrestricted free agent. Our office is presently investigating multiple allegations, some of which are the subject of pending litigation. We have as yet made no findings regarding these issues. The investigation is ongoing and will be pursued vigorously and expeditiously.
As long as Mr. Brown is a free agent, placement on the Commissioner’s exempt list is not appropriate. If he is signed by a club, such placement may become appropriate at any time depending on the status of the investigation. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, he may also be subject to discipline if the investigation finds that he has violated the law or league policies.”
At this moment, it’s hard to see Brown landing another deal in 2019. But, for what it’s worth, agent Drew Rosenhaus seems to think his client isn’t far off from playing again.
“It’s unfortunate things didn’t work out with the Patriots,” Rosenhaus said in a statement. “But Antonio is healthy and is looking forward to his next opportunity in the NFL. He wants to play the game he loves and he hopes to play for another team soon.”
Patriots Release Antonio Brown
The Patriots have released Antonio Brown after just one game with the club. His release comes on the heels of a second round of allegations from his second accuser, who says that he sent her intimidating text messages. 
[RELATED – Accuser Says Brown Sent “Intimidating” Text Messages]
“The New England Patriots are releasing Antonio Brown. We appreciate the hard work of many people over the past 11 days, but we feel that it is best to move in a different direction at this time,” the team said in a statement.
New England is set to pay him $5MM of his $9MM signing bonus on Monday. The entire signing bonus is guaranteed, meaning that the Patriots and Brown are likely scheduled to rumble over whether the wide receiver will collect on it.
Cash aside, it’s unlikely that Brown will find another NFL home anytime soon. Then again, we’ve seen crazier things happen in the league.
While Brown faces civil suits from both of his accusers, he does not currently face any criminal charges. Recently, the Allegheny County District Attorney announced that he would not pursue charges against Brown for two 2017 events alleged by Brittney Taylor. It’s still possible that criminal charges arise from his alleged 2018 dalliance with Taylor, or from his interactions with the second anonymous accuser, known simply to be an “artist.”
Brown’s total stay in New England lasted just eleven days. He was the 72nd player in NFL history to catch a touchdown pass from Tom Brady and that could go down as his only on-field moment of note for the Patriots.
Accuser: Antonio Brown Sent “Intimidating” Text Messages
Antonio Brown won’t be facing criminal charges for two of the three sexual assault he’s being accused of, but he could still be in jeopardy with the NFL and the legal system. The latest accusation from Brown’s second accuser, if proven to be true, could easily take the Patriots star off of the field. 
Brown’s accuser claims she received threatening text messages from the wide receiver on Wednesday, as Robert Klemko of The MMQB writes. In turn, her lawyer notified the NFL of the matter on Thursday night and included screenshots of the text in his letter to the league office.
Brown, she says, texted her and three other people to encourage the other parties to dig into the woman’s past. In response, the accuser’s lawyer petitioned the NFL to take action against Brown for “intimidating and threatening” her client in what she views as a “violation of the NFL Personal Conduct Policy.”
Brown’s lawyer, Darren Heitner, was one of the people in the group text. He did not respond to the messages in the group chat and declined to comment when asked about the messages by Klemko.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports says the NFL is meeting with the accuer’s lawyer’s today (Twitter link). As of this writing, Brown is slated to take the field for the Patriots on Sunday afternoon when they face the Jets, but that could change in a matter of hours. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says AB has been caught with a smoking gun and suggests that the NFL and the Patriots should take swift and severe action against him.
In his meeting with the media today, Pats HC Bill Belichick said the team was “looking into” the latest incident but would not offer further comment. When he was asked again about Brown, Belichick cut the press conference short by walking off the podium.
Dolphins Claim Taco Charlton Off Of Waivers
The Dolphins have claimed Taco Charlton off of waivers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com relays (Twitter link).
Charlton will be eligible to play for the Dolphins against the Cowboys on Sunday. Dallas released their former first-round pick earlier this week.
Charlton has been ineffective during his time in Dallas, though injuries have robbed him of a chance to get better. Dallas gets Robert Quinn, who played last season with the Dolphins, back from suspension this week, so the team had little room for Charlton in the defensive line rotation. He finished his Cowboys career with four sacks in 27 games.
Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the Dolphins were the only team to put a claim in on Charlton (Twitter link). Other clubs were deterred by the $3MM Charlton is owed over the next two seasons and his relative lack of production to date, but Miami, flush with cap space and in the midst of a rebuild, was willing to absorb the cost of this particular lottery ticket.
Cowboys Release Taco Charlton
Taco Charlton, who the Cowboys selected in the first round of the 2017 draft, has been released, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports and the Cowboys confirm. It was reported earlier today that the Cowboys would shop the defensive end or cut him if they couldn’t find a suitor on the trade market.
Robert Quinn, who the Cowboys acquired in the offseason, is set to return from a two-game suspension and with Quinn in the defensive line rotation, playing time for Charlton would have likely been minimized.
Charlton has been ineffective during his time in Dallas, though injuries have robbed him of a chance to get better. He finishes his Cowboys career with four sacks in 27 games.
Antonio Brown Won’t Face Criminal Charges For Alleged 2017 Incidents
The Allegheny County District Attorney will not pursue criminal charges against Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown for two alleged incidents that took place in 2017 (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). Former Brown cohort Brittney Taylor has accused him of three separate incidents, in total, so he is not necessarily out of the woods in terms of legal repercussions. It is presently unclear whether Brown will face charges for the third alleged incident, which is said to have taken place in May of 2018.
The DA will not pursue charges against Brown for these two alleged sexual assaults, which Taylor says took place in June of 2017, due to the statute of limitations. That is to say, the DA is not speaking to the merits of the accusations one way or another by declining to press charges.
While football is secondary in this entire matter, we must note that this will potentially impact Brown’s availability for the Patriots moving forward. If no charges, or convictions, come any of Taylor’s three separate accusations of sexual assault, it is possible that Brown will not face league discipline. Of course, the league office still reserves the right to suspend Brown based on the results of their own investigation.
In his Patriots debut on Sunday, Brown caught four passes for 56 yards and one touchdown. This week, he’s slated to turn his attention to the Jets. Brown’s status is very much day-to-day due to the issues surrounding him, but the NFL typically makes these types of rulings on players by Wednesday morning of any given game week. Barring something unforeseen, the Patriots will have Brown on the field at the Meadowlands.
Patriots To Place T Isaiah Wynn On IR
For the second straight year, Isaiah Wynn will end up on IR. The Patriots will shut down their left tackle starter for the time being, with Field Yates reporting (via Twitter) the foot injury he suffered in Week 2 will result in an IR stay.
Wynn, who missed all of his rookie season, will be out at least eight weeks. The Pats signed former Buccaneers starter Caleb Benenoch earlier Tuesday, and he will end up taking Wynn’s roster spot.
The 2018 first-round pick left New England’s Week 2 shutout in Miami due to turf toe. Benenoch is the latest new face on the Pats’ front. They made three preseason trades for offensive linemen and turned to newcomers Korey Cunningham and Marshall Newhouse in place of Wynn. The Pats lost Marcus Cannon to a Week 1 injury; he missed Week 2. Now they’ll have to get by without Wynn. The defending Super Bowl champions are already without center David Andrews for the season.
Even though they won Super Bowl LIII without Wynn’s services, the Pats no longer have Trent Brown as an insurance policy. Some lower-profile veterans will now be charged with protecting Tom Brady‘s blind side. While offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia has proven repeatedly to be able to construct high-end blocking groups, this will be his latest challenge.