April 2019 - New England Patriots Wiretap

Antonio Brown To File Up To Nine Grievances, Appeals

Sep 29, 2019 10:59 AM

Antonio Brown will file nine grievances and appeals simultaneously as he looks to recoup as much as the $61 million he believes he is still owed to him.

The grievances and appeals involve the following issues and sums of money:

• Fine appeals with the Oakland Raiders: $215,000

• Salary guarantees with Oakland: $29 million

• Signing bonus with Raiders: $1 million

• Oakland's unpaid Week 1 salary: $860,000

• New England Patriots' salary guarantee: $1 million

• Patriots signing bonus: $9 million

• Patriots' unpaid Week 3 salary: $64,000

• Patriots' option year in 2020: $20 million

Brown could also file an appeal if he is suspended by the NFL. Brown has been accused of sexual assault and sexual misconduct by two different women

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Legal, Misc Rumor, Suspension

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Bill Belichick Doesn't Believe In Historical Analytics

Sep 27, 2019 2:48 PM

Bill Belichick claimed he doesn't rely on analytics when deciding whether to go for it on fourth down or attempt a two-point conversion.

"Less than zero," Belichick said Friday morning.

Belichick was asked if his decisions are based on his gut.

"I'm not saying it's a gut thing. It's an individual analysis based on the things that are pertinent to that game and that situation," he said. "I don't really care what happened in 1973 and what those teams did or didn't do. I don't really think that matters in this game -- or '83 or '90, pick out whatever you want."

Belichick then smiled and said, "It's not really my thing. And I like math, too, by the way."

 

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots

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Kraft Likely Overruled Brady, Belichick On Cutting Antonio Brown

Sep 27, 2019 11:12 AM

Tom Brady was reportedly upset with the New England Patriots' decision to cut Antonio Brown.

Brady publicly made the following comments to Jim Gray on Westwood One on Monday.

“I don’t make any personnel decisions," said Brady. "I don’t decide to sign players. I don’t decide to trade then. I don’t decide to release them. I don’t decide to draft them. I don’t get asked, I show up and do my job. I’m an employee like everyone else. I’m going to show this week and do the best I can do as quarterback. … Maybe one day I will be an owner and I can make all the decisions that I want.”

The Patriots' decision to cut Brown was made by Robert Kraft, a rare if not unprecedented instance in which he intervened on the football side. Bill Belichick understood the decision and accepted it, but Brown would likely still be with the Patriots if Kraft hadn't insisted upon it.

Tom E. Curran/NBC Sports Boston

Tags: New England Patriots, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Tom Brady Cites Age For Limited Practice Participation

Sep 25, 2019 8:43 PM

Tom Brady has cited his age for being limited in three of the past four practices with the New England Patriots.

"Football is a contact sport. I wouldn't say I'm a spring chicken anymore," Brady said. "I'm trying to just feel as great as I can and we'll see how it goes tomorrow. But I feel pretty good."

Brady is now 42 years old.

Brady is expected to play in Week 4 despite his limited participation in practice..

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots

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Patriots Sign Cody Kessler

Sep 25, 2019 12:50 PM

The New England Patriots have agreed to sign Cody Kessler.

Kessler was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars in May and didn't make the regular season roster of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kessler was a third round pick out of USC by the Cleveland Browns.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Patriots Decline To Pay First Installment Of Antonio Brown's Bonus

Sep 25, 2019 12:56 PM

The New England Patriots have not paid Antonio Brown $5 million, the first installment of his $9 million signing bonus, per a league source.

Per the terms of his contract, Brown was due to receive the money by or before Monday.

Brown will surely file a grievance aimed at getting the $9 million, along with the balance of his $1 million guaranteed salary.

Mike Florio/Pro Football Talk

Tags: New England Patriots, Misc Rumor

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Tom Brady Won't Share 'Personal' Feelings On Antonio Brown

Sep 23, 2019 9:37 AM

Tom Brady addressed the Antonio Brown situation during his weekly radio appearance in Boston on Monday morning.

"I do have a lot of personal feelings, none of which I really care to share," Brady told WEEI. "It's a difficult situation. That's kind of how I feel."

Brady spent time one-on-one with Brown on and off the field in hopes of easing his transition to the team. He was only a member of the New England Patriots for 11 days.

"There's a lot of human elements. As a player, as a person, I care deeply about my teammates. I want everyone to be the best they can possibly be," he said. "From the day I started with this team, even back in college, you try to provide leadership, and you try to care for people. You try to provide whatever you think you can to help them reach their highest potential -- whatever situation it is.

"I've had a lot of teammates over the years, so you invest -- not just your head, but your heart. You invest your soul. That's what makes a great team. That's what makes a great brotherhood. So I think in the end, the endearing trait about sports for me is the relationships I get to build, because they're very meaningful. That's at the heart, I think, philosophically, [of] my life. It's really about great relationships and seeing guys from all different backgrounds. I think it brings all of us together in so many ways."

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Misc Rumor

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Intimidating Texts Led Patriots To Release Antonio Brown

Sep 22, 2019 11:43 AM

The New England Patriots decided to release Antonio Brown following the report he sent intimated group text messages to an artist who accused him on unwanted sexual advances.

"That crossed the line," one source familiar with the organization's thinking told ESPN. "This was real evidence."

The Patriots are expected to withhold the $9 million signing bonus they agreed to pay Brown when he signed.

Among other factors, New England will lean on the "representation and warranty" clause in Brown's contract that specifically states: "Player represent warrants and covenance to the club that he will 1) execute in good faith and to the best of his ability all of his obligations to and for the club; 2) he does not and will not participate and is not engaged or will not engage in any conduct or activity that is illegal, unlawful or immoral. And 3) No circumstances exist that would prevent players continuing availability to the club for the duration of the contract."

Some NFL sources strongly believe the Patriots will eventually owe Brown $9 million.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Waiver

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Antonio Brown Calls Out Robert Kraft, Ben Roethlisberger

Sep 22, 2019 11:34 AM

Antonio Brown called out Robert Kraft and Ben Roethlisberger for their alleged sexual transgressions following his release by the New England Patriots.

Kraft was chawed with solicitation for allegedly receiving a sex act at a massage parlor.

Roethlisberger was suspended four games by the NFL for multiple sexual assault accusations.

A source told Adam Schefter that "Kraft [is] never writing that check, no matter what the ruling is now."

ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Legal, Suspension

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Antonio Brown Says He Won't Return To NFL, Will File Grievance

Sep 23, 2019 11:11 AM

Antonio Brown said he won't play in the NFL in the future as he also suggested hypocrisy within the NFL.

Brown is referencing $29.125 million in guaranteed money from the Oakland Raiders and a $9 million signing bonus from the New England Patriots that were both rescinded.

Brown is being sued by former trainer Britney Taylor over multiple allegations of sexual assault. He was also accused of sexual misconduct by an artist in a story published by Sports Illustrated earlier this week.

The NFLPA will represent Brown in his grievance against the Patriots.

ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick Made Antonio Brown Decision Together

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Seahawks No Longer Interested In Signing Antonio Brown

Charean Williams/ProFootballTalk

Patriots Release Antonio Brown

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Patriots 'Looking Into Some Things' On Antonio Brown

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Artist Says Antonio Brown Sent 'Intimidating' Texts

ESPN

Nike Drops Antonio Brown As Endorser

ESPN

Antonio Brown Declined To Sign $2M Settlement With Britney Taylor

Jeff Darlington/ESPN

NFL Won't Place Antonio Brown On Exempt List

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Patriots Weren't Aware Of Antonio Brown's Civil Matter

Jeremy Fowler/ESPN

NFL Could Place Antonio Brown On Commissioner's Exempt List

The Washington Post

Antonio Brown Practices With Patriots On Wednesday

ESPN

Antonio Brown Sued For Sexual Assault By Former Trainer

Ben Shpigel/New York Times

Jets Acquire Demaryius Thomas From Patriots

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Belichick On Antonio Brown: Media Said Same Things About Randy Moss

Tom E. Curran/NBC Sports

Jon Gruden Approved Antonio Brown Using Call In Video

ESPN

Patriots Have 2020 Team Option On Antonio Brown At $20M

Mike Florio/ProFootballTalk

Tom Brady Offers To Let Antonio Brown Stay At His House

Josh Alper/ProFootballTalk

Antonio Brown Asked Social Media Experts For Advice On Getting Release

Chris Mortensen/ESPN

Antonio Brown Received Interest From Seahawks, Browns

Chris Mortensen/ESPN

Antonio Brown Agrees To One-Year, $15M Deal With Patriots

Adam Schefter/ESPN