Although the Oakland Raiders have insisted that there was nothing more to be done about the helmet issue, Antonio Brown went ahead and decided to take his chances by filing a second grievance against the NFL.
Brown sat out most of training camp and both of the team’s preseason games while dealing with frostbitten feet and trying to find a loophole that would allow him to wear his old helmet. Unfortunately, it has all been to no avail after his first grievance was denied.
Oakland had hoped that he would make his return since the matter could seemingly no longer be helped, however, his representation insisted there was still more that could be done in order to find a potential solution. As a result, they went ahead and filed another grievance asking for his helmet to be grandfathered in.
The second time did not prove to be the charm for Brown after he was denied once again, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:
Source: #Raiders WR Antonio Brown has lost his grievance for his helmet. Again.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 25, 2019
It appears that Brown is making the best of a tough situation though, per ProFootballTalk:
Per source, Antonio Brown is close to picking a new helmet, and his decision will include a custom-made model and an endorsement deal. So, silver lining.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 25, 2019
Brown is hardly the only player to voice his displeasure with the ban on helmets that are over a decade old. Other notable names include Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, however, their course of action in dealing with the matter has not been nearly as drastic as this one.
The ongoing dispute has caused the 31-year-old to spend ample time away from the team which could have otherwise been used on getting acclimated to the offense and building a rapport with his teammates. Regardless, head coach Jon Gruden could not help but express his excitement at having his seven-time Pro Bowler back in the mix.
Brown finally made his return to practice and was seen sporting a Schutt Vengeance Z10 LTD. Although the new helmet appears to be a suitable fit for practice purposes, it remains to be seen whether or not it will be enough to keep him around for good.
While it may be difficult to find a silver lining in this whole fiasco, there is no denying that Gruden has taken an optimistic approach to the matter. The biggest challenge for the Raiders now is making sure to help Brown avoid any more potential setbacks that may hinder his status for the 2019 NFL season.
Brown originally threatened retirement if he could not wear his preferred helmet, but he is not expected to follow through with that and should be ready for Week 1 despite losing his grievances.
