Brown, who had a short spell with the New England Patriots last season, reunites with quarterback Tom Bready in Tampa; Brown could make his debut against the New Orleans Saints on November 8 once his suspension is served
Thursday 29 October 2020 12:12, UK
Free agent wide receiver Antonio Brown has officially signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after agreeing a one-year deal with the team.
Brown had reportedly also been in discussions with the Seattle Seahawks.
The 32-year-old, who is suspended through Week Eight, will join an already impressive receiver corps including Pro Bowlers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, as well as Scotty Miller, who leads the team with 365 receiving yards.
Brown could be on the field for Tampa Bay in Week Nine when the Bucs host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, November 8 in a matchup of two leading NFC contenders.
Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady and Brown were briefly teammates last season in New England, the Patriots keeping Brown for just one game after his short tenure with the then-Oakland Raiders.
Brown has been a free agent since September 2019, when the Patriots released him after one game following allegations of sexual assault and sending intimidating text messages to an accuser. Those allegations led to an NFL investigation.
In June 2020, Brown was sentenced to two years' probation, ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation and enrol in a 13-week anger management course by a Florida court after pleading no contest to an assault charge unrelated to the allegations of sexual assault.
As part of the discipline, the league directed Brown to continue his counselling and treatment program.
Brown, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, had 104 catches for 1,297 yards and a league-best 15 touchdown receptions for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018, his last full season. He has 841 career receptions for 11,263 yards and 75 TDs over nine full seasons and part of another.
Reacting to Tampa Bay's move to add Brown, former NFL receiver Nate Burleson said on Good Morning Football: "I feel like he still can play, but how is he going to fit in?
"He is used to being the man, but this is a crowded wide receiver room - Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Scotty Miller - and then there's the tight ends. How is he going to fit in?
"When this guy started his career, he was on his way to the Hall of Fame. Let's not be silly; he might have been out of football for a couple of years, and a lot of that was self-inflicted issues he put on himself, but Antonio Brown has still got juice in his legs."
GMF's Peter Schrager added that he expects this to be Brown's last shot in the NFL: "Two weeks in, if there are any antics, cut him, he's gone.
"This is his last shot, and the Bucs have all the leverage. I've no doubt Bruce Arians has thought all of this stuff out and, if he acts up, which is very possible, he will not be playing in December for this team."
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