Patriots Say Antonio Brown Will Practice Amid Assault Allegations

Patriots Say Antonio Brown Will Practice Amid Assault Allegations
Bill Belichick has the New England Patriots to four Super Bowl wins and six conference championships since taking over in 2000. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Jack Phillips
9/11/2019
Updated:
9/12/2019

Superstar wide receiver Antonio Brown will take to the practice field amid allegations of sexual assault, said New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to reporters.

According to the New York Post, Belichick merely said, “Yes,” when asked about if Brown would be practicing in pads on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

The head coach was also asked if Brown, who was recently acquired after being cut by the Oakland Raiders, would play on Sunday.

“We’re taking it one day at a time, just like we always do,” Belichick said. “We’re preparing for one day at a time.”

Wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 of the Oakland Raiders talks with general manager Mike Mayock before the NFL preseason game in Glendale, Ariz., on Aug. 15, 2019. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 of the Oakland Raiders talks with general manager Mike Mayock before the NFL preseason game in Glendale, Ariz., on Aug. 15, 2019. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
“On Antonio’s situation, both Antonio and his representatives have made statements, so I’m not going to be expanding on any of those. They are what they are. We’ve looked into the situation. We’re taking it very seriously, all the way through the organization. I’m sure there are questions, but I’m not going to be entering a discussion about that today,” he also said, according to ESPN.

On Tuesday night, after the lawsuit was filed, the team issued a statement.

“We are aware of the civil lawsuit that was filed earlier today against Antonio Brown, as well as the response by Antonio’s representatives,” the Patriots said, ESPN reported. “We take these allegations very seriously. Under no circumstances does this organization condone sexual violence or assault. The league has informed us that they will be investigating. We will have no further comment while that investigation takes place.”

Brown’s lawyer, Darren Heitner, denied the allegations in a statement.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) catches a pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during practice at NFL football training camp in Latrobe, Pa., on July 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) catches a pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during practice at NFL football training camp in Latrobe, Pa., on July 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Heitner said Brown “will leave no stone unturned and will aggressively defend himself, including all of his rights in countersuits.”

Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said that the lawsuit filed by Britney Taylor, a former personal trainer, was to be expected.

Brown and Rosenhaus have been “unfortunately anticipating this possibility,” Rosenhaus told ESPN, according to Yahoo Sports.

“In no way do we condone any type of illegal conduct, misbehavior. None of this happened here,” Rosenhaus said.

He suggested that Taylor had ulterior motives in filing the civil suit.

“This is a money grab,” he said.

“I wouldn’t be doing this interview if I didn’t believe Antonio,” Rosenhaus explained. “These allegations are false. He denies every one of them. I’m very confident his legal team has facts that will prove this.”

The NFL might place Brown on the commissioner’s exempt list that forbids a player under investigation from taking part in games or practices.

According to the Washington Post, the league is giving “serious consideration” to putting him on the list.
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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