AB finds newer mannequin of helmet, returns to camp
NAPA, Calif. — Antonio Brown returned to Oakland Raiders coaching camp for the primary time in two weeks on Tuesday, with a compromise on his helmet problem seemingly in sight and his frostbitten ft persevering with to heal.
The four-time All-Professional receiver got here out to the sector at 11:05 a.m. PT, about 15 minutes earlier than observe ended.
“I am extraordinarily grateful to be right here,” Brown stated. “Been coping with a whole lot of adversity. I am excited to be again, see my teammates, and get within the groove of issues.”
Good to have you ever again, 84. pic.twitter.com/N9u1mHG1P8
— Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) August 13, 2019
Brown and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, acknowledged the helmet problem has been weighing on the participant. He accepted Monday’s resolution by an impartial arbitrator that went towards him utilizing his 10-year-old Schutt Air Benefit helmet, however now he is taking a look at a potential decision that may end up in him carrying the identical mannequin, simply extra lately produced.
Earlier Tuesday, Brown put out a publish on social media asking followers for his or her assist in discovering a model of his previous helmet that has been manufactured since 2010.
“I am searching for a Schutt Air Benefit Grownup Giant Helmet that was manufactured in 2010 or after. In alternate I’ll commerce a signed observe worn @Raiders helmet.”
— AB (@AB84) August 13, 2019
Rosenhaus stated they’d positioned some and that it was only a matter of getting a kind of reconditioned and re-certified.
“So, it is all affordable,” Rosenhaus stated. “I imply, it is all very believable.
“Perceive that this can be a man that is worn this helmet for 9 years. He is taken one million hits and he is been wholesome and some of the sturdy gamers ever at his place. So you possibly can perceive why he’d need to proceed to put on that helmet. It is essential to him. It is a huge a part of his security. … The Schutt Air Benefit is what he is worn his entire life.”
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If Brown can get a mannequin that is been manufactured since 2010 licensed by the Nationwide Athletic Tools Reconditioners Affiliation (NAERA), it’s not clear whether or not the NFL would log off on it, as a result of the expertise is outdated.
Schutt discontinued the Air Benefit in 2009, in keeping with Glenn Beckmann, Schutt’s director of selling communications. However the firm continued to fabricate the mannequin for a brief interval afterward to make sure a provide of components for reconditioning and guarantee claims.
Beckmann stated he “cannot think about” any Air Benefit fashions have been manufactured after 2011, and the corporate doesn’t have any in inventory. Helmets are registered with an eight-character quantity stamped contained in the product, just like a VIN quantity for vehicles, that verify its manufacture date.
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“There was nothing flawed with the Air Benefit,” Beckmann stated. “It had simply outlived its life.”
Brown has tried out the brand new licensed helmet and believes it protrudes and interferes along with his imaginative and prescient as he tries to catch the soccer. He additionally argued that his helmet made him really feel secure.
Rosenhaus reiterated that his shopper, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers in March and promptly given a three-year, $50.125 million contract, had been engaged on the helmet problem for “months.”
Brown had reportedly threatened to retire if he was not allowed to put on his helmet.
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Jon Gruden says it is nice to have Antonio Brown again and expects him to be prepared for the common season opener.
“All of the discuss retirement and every thing else, that is not a consideration proper now,” Rosenhaus stated. “He is dedicated to the group, he is dedicated to the season, and everybody can take solace in that. He’ll be taking part in this 12 months and taking part in for the Raiders.”
Rosenhaus additionally stated that Brown’s absence from the Raiders had every thing to do with the intense frostbite on his ft he suffered in a July cryotherapy mishap in France.
“It wasn’t his intention to go away the group for the time frame that he did; he is all the time had a superb line of communication with the membership,” stated Rosenhaus.
The Raiders have held 12 practices, with Brown taking part in only one pre-practice walk-through on July 28. He was restricted earlier than leaving early on July 30, and he had not been with the group since that day.
“It is a course of,” Brown stated. “We do not make excuses. I am right here as we speak simply to get issues on the up and up. I am feeling rather a lot higher. It has been a course of by means of all of the adversity, however I am nonetheless right here standing, so it is a chance for me to do what I need to do.
“Really feel rather a lot higher, you realize? Working in direction of 100 %. Been a course of with the ft. Any time you’ve got acquired a whole lot of blisters, it is laborious to vary instructions, minimize and run and do what I do naturally.”
Brown, who nonetheless seemed to be strolling gingerly Tuesday, smiled when requested if there was a timeframe for him to return to the observe discipline.
“I suppose you have to keep tuned,” he stated.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden stated he is undecided whether or not Brown, who was a mainstay throughout the Raiders’ offseason program and put in further work with quarterback Derek Carr, will play in any of the group’s three remaining exhibition video games.
Requested, although, if Brown shall be prepared for the season opener on Sept. 9 towards the Denver Broncos on ESPN’s “Monday Evening Soccer,” Gruden had little question.
“Oh yeah,” Gruden stated. “Yup. We’ll work him again in.
“Clearly, it is nice to have him again. We have had a fairly good understanding, despite what individuals suppose. … We have had a fairly good understanding of the foot damage. We all know the place he is been. We all know what he is been by means of. We’re thrilled to have him again and, clearly, we expect he is an amazing participant and we’re anxious to get the lads collectively and get rolling.”
Rely Carr amongst them.
“Cannot anticipate him to go well with up and be on the market with us,” Carr stated. “… Any time a teammate comes again, it all the time brings life to the group.
“We’ll be able to go Week 1. We have a whole lot of time till then. … Get some game-plan performs down, some routes, sure cuts he’ll run for us. The truth that he is right here is an effective signal. It is good for us.”
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert contributed to this report.