The next chapter of Antonio Brown’s football career will take place with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the four-time All-Pro receiver is signing a one-year deal to join the Buccaneers:
Update: Antonio Brown and the Buccaneers have reached agreement on a one-year deal, per sources.
Language still has to be finalized, COVID protocols passed, but Brown is likely to make his Bucs’ debut in Week 9 against the Saints.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 23, 2020
Credit Tom Brady for some of the leg work, as NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport tweets that the future Hall of Fame quarterback has been pushing for the team to acquire Brown “for some time.” The Brady-Brown connection played one productive game last season, with Brown catching four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots win against the Dolphins. But as we know by now, that tandem didn’t last long in New England.
That’s because the Patriots released Brown on September 20 after just 13 days with the team. Because days after signing with the Patriots, Ben Shpigel of the New York Times reported Brown was sued for sexual assault and rape. Shortly after that, SI.com’s Robert Klemko reported new allegations from an accuser who says Brown sent “intimidating” text messages after she made more accusations against Brown. It didn’t take long after those details surfaced for the team to cut Brown. An eight-week suspension the league handed Brown kept teams away from him in the offseason. But with the suspension about to end, the Buccaneers stepped up to land Brown.