Saints bring controversial receiver Brown in for workout

WASHINGTON Free agent wide receiver Antonio Brown visited the New Orleans Saints on Friday to work out for the NFL team.

However, the club said afterward it wasn’t signing the controversial free agent. “Not now,” coach Sean Payton said.

Payton told reporters the visit with Brown amounted to “due diligence.” Brown was among six receivers who worked out for the Saints and it was about “getting to know these guys.”

A reporter reminded Payton he said earlier the Saints weren’t interested in Brown, and he said he “probably wasn’t telling you the truth.”

Brown posted an image to Instagram of a waiver that he signed to work out for the Saints. He was to work out for the team along with a handful of other free agent players, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Brown has been under investigation by the NFL and has not played in the league since being released by the New England Patriots after playing one game for them early this season.

The NFL announced when Brown was released by the Patriots that it would consider putting him on paid leave via placement on the commissioner’s exempt list if he’s signed by a team. The league has been investigating allegations made by two women against Brown of rape, sexual assault and sending threatening text messages. Brown has denied the accusations and has filed a counterclaim against one of the women.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said at an owners meeting this month in Dallas that league investigators were following up on information provided by Brown when they interviewed him about the allegations. Brown faces a possible suspension without pay by the NFL under its personal conduct policy when the league’s investigation is completed.