The Antonio Brown Hypothetical: Post-Release

Would you take Antonio Brown on the Patriots

  • Wouldn't take him if acquisition cost were zilch

    Votes: 95 33.9%
  • Leaning no but would consider if cost were very low

    Votes: 68 24.3%
  • Probably yes if cost were low

    Votes: 57 20.4%
  • Absolutely - let's piss off the league some more

    Votes: 60 21.4%

  • Total voters
    280
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BigSoxFan

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Yes, the Patriots aren't trading for Antonio Brown. Let's get that out of the way. However, would you trade for AB if the Raiders decided to give him away for basically nothing?
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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I didn't see the correct answer in the poll.

"I would do what is in the best interest of the team."
 

tmracht

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I honestly have no idea what I'd give up for him, I'd take him for free, I wouldn't give up anything meaningful. I am probably Dan Snyder in spirit.
 

Rook05

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I’d take him 10/10 times. Is he really worst that Dillon? Does he have as much baggage as Moss did at the time of the trade? Hell, they went after Gordon who’s missed approximately 312 games since he came into the league. But Brown is too much of a diva? Please.
 

joe dokes

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I'd take him on a veteran minimum deal, where he has to practice for two weeks with his mouth shut before he gets activated, and is cut after the first misbehavior.

Brown and Gordon. Just like Hernandez and Stallworth but without death.
 

BaseballJones

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The question is, if the Pats were to sign him, they'd only do it (a) for next to nothing, and (b) with the explicit understanding that if he acts like this, he's gone. With those pieces in place, how likely is it that he'd act up? 10%? 50%? 90%?
 

thehitcat

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I'd take him on a one year make good (low base high incentives) and I'd trade them a 4th if he finishes the year on the Patriots with that dropping to a 6th if he shoots his way out of Foxboro.
 

dcmissle

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The question is, if the Pats were to sign him, they'd only do it (a) for next to nothing, and (b) with the explicit understanding that if he acts like this, he's gone. With those pieces in place, how likely is it that he'd act up? 10%? 50%? 90%?
The question is, how much more evidence of derangement do you need to see?

Who on the hard won 53 are you looking in the eye and cutting? *Yeah, he gets your spot?”
 

DJnVa

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I’d take him 10/10 times. Is he really worst that Dillon? Does he have as much baggage as Moss did at the time of the trade? Hell, they went after Gordon who’s missed approximately 312 games since he came into the league. But Brown is too much of a diva? Please.
AB threatened to punch his GM. I'm gonna go with "Yes".
 

findguapo

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As a Steelers fan, I am about 120% certain Belichick is hand painting a helmet for him now and AB will score 4 touchdowns for the Pats week 1.
 

dcmissle

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Mayock: “He is not in the building. He will not be practicing.”

NFLN. Mayock looked pissed.
 

dcdrew10

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I'd take him on a veteran minimum deal, where he has to practice for two weeks with his mouth shut before he gets activated, and is cut after the first misbehavior.
This is where I am at. I would trade nothing for him, since that would put you on the hook for his guaranteed portion of his contract. Now if he is released and wants something with low guarantees and some minimal performance bonuses, a slightly sweetened make-good one year deal, then fine, go for it, but make it very clear that any InstaFace BS or other shenanigans and it's time to hit Rt. 1.
 

Super Nomario

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The question is, if the Pats were to sign him, they'd only do it (a) for next to nothing, and (b) with the explicit understanding that if he acts like this, he's gone. With those pieces in place, how likely is it that he'd act up? 10%? 50%? 90%?
They traded for Albert Haynesworth once. I see Brown as very unlikely based on what's been reported, but they've been willing to give misfits and malcontents opportunities before - with the understanding that they're gone right away if they don't do what's expected. What did Haynesworth last, four weeks?
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Antonio Brown is an aging player with lots of question marks about not just his attitude but also how much he has left in the tank. However the guy was one of the best players in the entire NFL as recently as two seasons ago and while the Patriots don't have a glaring need at his position, they could still use his skills assuming they aren't falling off a cliff.

As for the chemistry issue, I cannot believe there is anyone in this forum or even beyond take-quake talk radio who thinks that a single player could disrupt the locker room in New England. If there is one NFL franchise that could weather the storm of a disruptive player without it impacting the broader culture, its the Patriots. In fact, I don't blame the hot take crowd in seeing this as a potential, albeit unlikely, outcome of Brown escaping Oakland.
 

SamCassellsStones

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I'd take him on a veteran minimum deal, where he has to practice for two weeks with his mouth shut before he gets activated, and is cut after the first misbehavior.

Brown and Gordon. Just like Hernandez and Stallworth but without death.
Probably even better, and with (at least) 4 fewer deaths! (Great quote by the way)
 

Mueller's Twin Grannies

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AB threatened to punch his GM. I'm gonna go with "Yes".
To be fair, it is the GM of the Radiers.

Magary wrote his WYTS article on the Raydihz a little too soon. This will be fodder for next year's, though, I'm sure.

I'd take a flyer on him. If he can't behave, he's gone. Then again, Oakland and New England are so dissimilar in all the things that might matter to a star player like Brown (QB, coach, system, WR help) might bring out the professionalism.

The Raiders are so poorly run that you have to think the bloom came off the rose for AB right after the trade. He wants to play for a contender and is likely going to cause problems until he gets that chance, whether it's NE or somewhere else.

The odds of him making it through Week 5 with the Raiders seems so infinitesimal that I'm not sure even Vegas would know how to set the odds.
 

dcmissle

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They traded for Albert Haynesworth once. I see Brown as very unlikely based on what's been reported, but they've been willing to give misfits and malcontents opportunities before - with the understanding that they're gone right away if they don't do what's expected. What did Haynesworth last, four weeks?
About that. His departure was performance based.
 

JMDurron

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EDIT - This post added nothing, and was probably in the wrong thread anyway
 
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Super Nomario

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About that. His departure was performance based.
If that's true, that just adds to the idea that the Patriots can get guys to fall in line who might not elsewhere. I think there was more to it than just performance though. There were reports that Haynesworth got into an argument on the sideline with Pepper Johnson; he was benched for the second half and cut shortly thereafter.
 

OnWisc

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I don't think this is a case where the right environment for AB could make things click. I don't think he wants to play anymore and will continue to manufacture situations that keep him off the field the overwhelming majority, if not all, of the time, regardless of where he is.
 

EddieYost

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The question is, how much more evidence of derangement do you need to see?

Who on the hard won 53 are you looking in the eye and cutting? *Yeah, he gets your spot?”
I am pretty sure Belichick could muster up the courage to cut anyone on the roster.
 

pokey_reese

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At this point in the season, it seems like the Steelers would be the best fit just because it wouldn't take him weeks to learn the playbook and get in sync with the QB. Not sure they would want another go-round, though.
 

DJnVa

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Corey Dillon punched his wife. I'd go with no. He's not worse than Dillon and I loved Dillon as a Patriot.
Yes, and that sucks. But if you think violence at home and violence at the workplace would have the same repercussions with your employer I guess we'll just agree to disagree.
 

Soxy

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I’d take him 10/10 times. Is he really worst that Dillon? Does he have as much baggage as Moss did at the time of the trade? Hell, they went after Gordon who’s missed approximately 312 games since he came into the league. But Brown is too much of a diva? Please.
I don't think it has anything to do with Brown being a "diva" and has everything to do with him being an asshole who has shown repeatedly and consistently that he gives zero shits about anybody not named Antonio Brown.

Getting a guy like that to buy in to an organizational culture that emphasizes team success over individual success could prove challenging. To say the least.

The Dillons and Mosses of the world only stayed around as long as they were willing to do that. I don't think AB would last a month.
 

Fred in Lynn

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At this point in the season, it seems like the Steelers would be the best fit just because it wouldn't take him weeks to learn the playbook and get in sync with the QB. Not sure they would want another go-round, though.
I got a good laugh out of this, Pokey. With every passing second, they’re looking like they got the better end of that deal, i.e., the side which doesn’t have AB anywhere near their football team.

Realistically, the Raiders are in for a dime and a dollar because of the finances - and because they’re the Raiders.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I would absolutely take him on the cheap, because i have total confidence if he were a disruption BB would turf him immediately. I worried about Haynesworth and they handled that perfectly.

I think Pats would meet with AB, tell him flat-out he's an amazing player and if he wants to do stuff other than play football and try to win games he should tell them, and that if he shows up and does his job the Pats will support him...and if he doesn't, he will be canned immediately. Just like everyone else on the roster (at least, everything not named Tom Brady..who at least would get a second strike)
 

nattysez

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Data point worth considering:

When Antonio Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders, few were surprised given the near-constant links between the two sides....The audio is fascinating because it gives a rare behind-the-scenes look at an interaction between an agent and a player. Rosenhaus updates Brown on the current lay of the land, telling him the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles have perhaps even moved ahead of Oakland in the list of potential destinations.
View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2828016-listen-antonio-brown-drew-rosenhaus-talk-patriots-eagles-before-raiders-trade
 

PedroKsBambino

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As far as the Pats and AB goes, Bill and Mike Mayock are very close. I don't think that if Bill picked up the phone that Mayock would exactly give him a ringing endorsement at this point.
Yeah, but the situations are totally different.

I of course do not believe it would happen---but Mayock and Gruden are trying to figure out how to build a culture, and AB is a very different part of that goal than he'd be with the Pats. The Pats have a cutlre, they have the ultimate NFL alpha (and probably, between Slater, McCourty, Brady, etc. the ultimate set of them) in the lockerroom and a credibility with the media, the fans, and the owner that is beyond question. AB may think Oakland needs him, Gruden needs him, he's the most important guy on the roster, whatever else. That wont' be true with Pats even for an extreme egomaniac like AB.

If AB comes to the Pats it is on their terms and with total clarity in all directions they will cut him without a second thought, that no one in the NFL or the city of Boston will question them (well, nitwit radio guys and Shank will but not for real--just to fill air), and that his career will then likely be over. That's a totally different hand than Gruden and Mayock are playing. Since this is all true I don't think he'd end up with the Pats, but if he does it will be for a totally different set of reasons than the Raiders got him, and the dynamcs will be equally different.
 
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ZMart100

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Yes, the Patriots aren't trading for Antonio Brown. Let's get that out of the way. However, would you trade for AB if the Raiders decided to give him away for basically nothing?
14.6m guaranteed this season and 14.5 next? I'm not trading for him.

However, if as the poll suggests, he were cut and would accept a contract where he could be easily cut, I'd do that. In the past BB's position on talented malcontents with other teams is that they haven't done anything to harm the Patriots yet, so they can have a chance.
 

dcmissle

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If that's true, that just adds to the idea that the Patriots can get guys to fall in line who might not elsewhere. I think there was more to it than just performance though. There were reports that Haynesworth got into an argument on the sideline with Pepper Johnson; he was benched for the second half and cut shortly thereafter.
Arguments on the sideline are pretty common. We have this from Belichick:

“I thought that both he and myself, speaking for the staff, we really tried to make it work,” said Belichick. “He had a few physical limitations to overcome when he got here but I thought he really tried to do what we asked him to do. We tried to work with him. In the end, it just didn’t work out. I think the best thing we could do was just move on.”

In any case, Florio makes a pretty persuasive case that AB could be subject to League discipline for the Mayock threat. Do you feel lucky?

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/09/05/antonio-brown-may-have-a-problem-under-the-personal-conduct-policy/
 

TheoShmeo

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There's getting him and then there's paying him.

If both costs were negligible, I'm not sure how you pass given the talent level.

One, AB isn't enough on his own to screw up this particular lockerroom.

Two, let's not go all Lou Gorman and say "where would I play Willie McGee." Yes, the existing group looks good but the Pats would figure out how to use a talent like this.

My problem is that I assume that even if the first cost was nil, the second cost would not be.

If both costs were indeed low, do it. Easy.
 

RedOctober3829

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Yeah, but the situations are totally different.

I of course do not believe it would happen---but Mayock and Gruden are trying to figure out how to build a culture, and AB is a very different part of that goal than he'd be with the Pats. The Pats have a cutlre, they have the ultimate NFL alpha (and probably, between Slater, McCourty, Brady, etc. the ultimate set of them) in the lockerroom and a credibility with the media, the fans, and the owner that is beyond question. AB may think Oakland needs him, Gruden needs him, he's the most important guy on the roster, whatever else. That wont' be true with Pats even for an extreme egomaniac like AB.

If AB comes to the Pats it is on their terms and with total clarity in all directions they will cut him without a second thought, that no one in the NFL or the city of Boston will question them (well, nitwit radio guys and Shank will but not for real--just to fill air), and that his career will then likely be over. That's a totally different hand than Gruden and Mayock are playing. Since this is all true I don't think he'd end up with the Pats, but if he does it will be for a totally different set of reasons than the Raiders got him, and the dynamcs will be equally different.
Mike knows what qualities Bill likes in a player. It's clear, at least right now, that AB is not interested in falling in line for anybody. I'd also question how much he loves the game of football. Those are 2 big things with Bill.
 
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