As of the time of this writing, Antonio Brown’s accuser, Britney Taylor, is expected to meet with NFL officials today in regards to the civil lawsuit that she has filed against the New England Patriots. She likely will have already met with them or will be in the process of meeting at the time that this publishes.
According to prior reports, Brown and Taylor had been in talks for months regarding a potential settlement, a fact that was unknown to the Patriots, as well as every other team, because players are not obligated to disclose civil lawsuits, including in the free agency process.
Taylor originally met Brown during bible study while both were in attendance at CMU, but they had fallen out of contact for years until 2017, at which point the wide receiver began to hire her to train him.
Over the course of the next two years, she alleges that she committed multiple acts of sexual violence against her, culminating in a forcible rape at his Miami residence in 2018. An unnamed witness is said to have been on-hand for at least one or more of these incidents.
And according to new reports, from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, that witness likely was his cousin. That cousin. Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown, the first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens, who has been an early star in their explosive offense with 233 receiving yards in his first two games, the most by anybody since Anquan Boldin. His first two receptions went for long touchdowns, making him the second player ever to record touchdowns on his first two receptions.
While it is only being said that he may have been a witness, had been in the residence, while one or more of these incidents occurred, and there is nothing that he is being accused of, I’m sure it’s not something the Ravens want to get themselves tied into.
Assuming that it was Marquise who was present at one or more of these incidents, however, it’s very likely that the NFL is going to want to interview him at some point over the course of their investigation in to the matter, which would lead to a suspension and perhaps even a placement on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, even though no prior player has ever been put on the list without a criminal charge being field against him. The rule, however, does allow for that possibility.
As for practical matters, the league, and the Patriots, allowed Antonio Brown to practice with them all week, and he made his debut with them yesterday, making an immediate impact in a 43-0 blowout against the Miami Dolphins.
He was targeted eight times, catching four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. He led the Patriots in all receiving statistics for the game short of yards per reception and longest reception. New England has now outscored its opponents this season (including the Steelers) 76-3. Not good.
