Brown suspended 8 games; agent says WR wants to play
NEW YORK — The NFL on Friday suspended wide receiver Antonio Brown for the first eight games of 2020 under the league’s personal conduct policy.
Brown, who played one game last season for the New England Patriots before being released, can be signed by any team and would be eligible to participate in all of his club’s preseason activities. The suspension would take effect when teams make their final cuts Sept. 5.
As part of the discipline, Brown was directed to continue his program of counseling and treatment.
He also was advised that any future violation of the personal conduct policy will “likely result in more significant discipline.”
Brown’s agent Ed Wasielewski tweeted that Brown won’t appeal the suspension. “He is excited to resume his outstanding football career and is looking forward to playing in the 2020 season,” Wasielewski said.
Brown pleaded no contest June 12 to charges related to a fight with a moving truck driver outside his South Florida home earlier this year. He must serve two years of probation, undergo a psychological evaluation and follow-up treatment, attend an anger management course, and perform 100 hours of community service.
Belichick: QB job is up for grabs
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said the quarterback position is wide open heading into training camp.
Free agent pickup and 2015 MVP Cam Newton will be competing with second-year man Jarrett Stidham and veteran backup Brian Hoyer to succeed Tom Brady.
“That spot’s the same as all the others on the team,” Belichick said. “We’ve got a long way to go. I can’t control how players perform. That’s up to them. We’ll give everybody an opportunity and we’ll see what happens.”
ESPN reshuffles booth for MNF
Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick will be the new announcer team for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” a person familiar with the decision said.
The MNF booth has had frequent changes since Mike Tirico left for NBC in 2016. Tirico was the playby-play voice for 10 seasons (2006-15) and teamed with Jon Gruden for the last seven. Sean McDonough took over for Tirico for 2016 and 2017 and worked with Gruden.
After Gruden left to take over as Raiders coach and McDonough sought to move back to college football, ESPN went with a three-man booth of Joe Tessitore, Jason Witten and Booger McFarland in 2018. Witten struggled as an analyst and returned to the playing field last year.
While ratings increased the past two seasons, the announcing was panned. ESPN is hoping this booth has more staying power.
Odds and ends
Safety Jayron Kearse of the Detroit Lions was suspended for the first three games of the 2020 season for violating league policy on substance abuse. … Buffalo Bills starting right guard Jon Feliciano is out indefinitely after surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle.