The Antonio Brown helmet saga: Is the Raiders’ ultimatum for actual?
Kevin SeifertNFL Nation
CloseESPN.com nationwide NFL author
ESPN.com NFC North reporter, 2008-2013
Lined Vikings for Minneapolis Star Tribune, 1999-2008
We’re into Week three of Antonio Brown’s ongoing makes an attempt to search out an NFL-approved helmet that the Oakland Raiders broad receiver can be prepared to put on. How might this be potential?
Glad you requested. Here is the whole lot it is advisable know to rise up to hurry.
What is the newest?
Brown has been preventing an NFL coverage that requires helmet certification in accordance with business requirements. He misplaced a grievance towards the NFL that sought an exception to put on his Schutt Air Benefit, a helmet he has worn all through his profession and that was accessible in the marketplace between 2002 and 2009.
He believed final week that he had discovered an appropriate substitute, however that individual helmet was not licensed in accordance with the requirements of the Nationwide Working Committee on Requirements for Athletic Tools (NOCSAE). The precise certification exams are licensed out to the Nationwide Athletic Tools Reconditioners Affiliation (NAERA).
What was the issue?
One of many NAERA’s necessities is helmet can’t be greater than 10 years previous. Though Schutt eliminated the Air Benefit from its product line in 2009, it continued to fabricate it for a number of extra years, to satisfy particular orders and/or to make sure acceptable components for guarantee functions, in accordance with Schutt director of promoting and communications Glenn Beckmann. Brown situated a helmet manufactured inside the 10-year window, however NAERA has extra testing parameters that it didn’t meet.
zero:54
Ryan Clark urges Antonio Brown to cease with the off-the-field drama and give attention to simply taking part in soccer.
What’s so nice in regards to the Air Benefit? Aren’t newer helmets higher and safer?
In response to Beckmann, the Air Benefit was light-weight relative to different helmets of its period and was additionally straightforward to customized match. Talent place gamers believed it helped maximize their velocity.
“It was one of many lightest, if not the lightest, within the area,” Beckmann stated. “For gamers, particularly on the skilled stage, each benefit that they’ll have is essential. In the event that they really feel like they’re lighter carrying a sure helmet, then they’re lighter and sooner in notion and in actuality.”
The Air Benefit additionally had areas carved out on both aspect to maximise peripheral imaginative and prescient and reduce any blockage, an apparent necessity for receivers.
2 Associated
Effectively, would not accepted helmets have the identical options?
In lots of circumstances, sure. However ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that Brown thinks the very best alternate options all protrude and block his imaginative and prescient. Agent Drew Rosenhaus stated Monday on ESPN’s Get Up that Brown’s most well-liked helmet “has saved him protected” all through his soccer profession.
And from a sentimental perspective, Brown is way from the one participant who will get connected to explicit helmets for every kind of causes.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, compelled by one other NFL coverage to vary helmets this season, stated he nonetheless does not love the brand new one. And New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees stated he did not initially like his new helmet as a result of it seemed like he was “going to Mars.”
So how will this finish?
It is potential that Brown will discover an Air Benefit that NAERA will certify. If not, he might file a second grievance in regards to the failure to certify a helmet that’s lower than 10 years previous. Given the NFL’s current historical past, a federal lawsuit cannot be dominated out, with an injunction to permit him to play within the interim with some model of the Air Benefit. In any other case, he’ll must observe by on his preliminary menace to retire.
What in regards to the Raiders? They can not be comfortable that Brown has missed most of camp.
They don’t seem to be. Normal supervisor Mike Mayock issued an ultimatum on Sunday, saying: “It is time for him to be all-in or all-out.”
Per Schefter, Brown returned to camp in time for a crew assembly Monday morning.
1:15
Marcus Spears argues that Raiders GM Mike Mayock traded for Antonio Brown for his manufacturing whereas not making an allowance for his previous actions.
Does that imply it is over?
Not essentially. If Brown holds agency, the Raiders might launch or commerce him. An outright launch would double his 2019 cap cost to just about $30 million, and the Raiders would nonetheless be accountable for paying him the money. His contract contains some offset language, in accordance with a supply, which suggests the Raiders’ legal responsibility can be diminished if one other crew indicators him.
In a commerce, the brand new crew would inherit all of Brown’s current wage and ensures, and the Raiders’ cap costs would drop dramatically to $333,000 in 2019 and $666,000 in 2020. However a commerce appears unlikely, no less than till Brown finds an appropriate helmet.
Lastly, if Brown leaves camp once more, the Raiders might place him on the reserve/didn’t report checklist. That may give him 5 days to both return or be ineligible to play this season. His contract would toll to 2020, and the ensures would seemingly be voided. It is seemingly Brown would file a grievance to protect towards any try and get well or scale back his wage.