Raiders GM losing patience with Brown on helmet issue.
Raiders receiver Antonio Brown was not on the field at the start of Sunday’s afternoon practice.
Succinctly, general manager Mike Mayock explained why.
In a statement to reporters, Mayock said Brown remains upset about his preferred helmet not being allowed by the NFL — and essentially issued an ultimatum regarding Brown’s future with the team.
“You all know that A.B.’s not here today,” Mayock said. “So here’s the bottom line: He’s upset about the helmet issue. We have supported that. We appreciate that. But at this point, we’ve pretty much exhausted all avenues of relief.
“So from our perspective, it’s time for him to be all in or all out. So we’re hoping he’s back soon. We’ve got 89 guys busting their tails. We are really excited about where this fran
chise is going. And we hope A.B. is going to be a big part of it starting Week 1 against Denver. End of story.”
Mayock did not take questions.
Brown has been in a dispute with the NFL over a rule preventing him from wearing his favored helmet, a Schutt Air Advantage model that is more than 10 years old.
The NFL requires its helmets to meet safety standards set by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment. The National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association, which recertifies helmets under NOCSAE standards, will not recertify any helmets that are more than 10 years old.
Schutt no longer manufactures the Air Advantage model. However, it was thought that if Brown located a version that was less than 10 years old, he could have it recertified for use.
Before this season, the NFL released a list of 11 helmets that had been banned after undergoing lab performance testing. The Air Advantage was not on the list of tested helmets.
Last week, Drew Rosenhaus, Brown’s agent, told reporters in Napa that they had found versions of the Air Advantage made in the past 10 years.
Mike Oliver, executive director of NOCSAE, said in a phone interview last week such a helmet could be submitted for potential recertification.
“Assuming they can find a helmet that the shell is the appropriate vintage or age, and otherwise qualified to be recertified, then, yes, it can be recertified and sent back to Antonio or the Raiders or whoever and used in a game.”
However, a league source said that Brown’s camp was told last Monday the newer helmet also would have to pass NFL and NFL Players’ Association performance testing to be approved.
Per the source, the NFL acquired a 2011 version of the Schutt Air Advantage and put it through the same testing that produced the aforementioned list. The helmet did not pass, which would preclude any versions of the Air Advantage from being used.
Brown’s camp was told of the result by the NFLPA on Saturday, the source said.
On Saturday evening, Brown appeared to express his frustration on Twitter in a post that included the words: “Super Prejudice unbelievable!”
A call to Rosenhaus on Sunday was not immediately returned.
Earlier Saturday, Brown had taken part in a walkthrough practice with the Raiders and seemed to be on track to rejoin the team in full capacity after an absencefilled training camp.
Brown, whom the Raiders acquired from the Steelers in March for draft picks and signed to a threeyear, $50.125 million contract, began training camp on the nonfootball injury list because of frostbite on his feet. He took part in one padded practice July 30, but did not practice again until participating in warmups before Thursday’s preseason game at Arizona.
Brown said he was away from the team seeing a foot specialist during his absence.
On Thursday night, Brown indicated he thought a resolution to the helmet issue would come soon. Brown also refuted a previous ESPN report that he would consider walking away from the game if not allowed to wear his preferred helmet.
“Still working with the NFL just to make sure everything’s legal, appropriate,” Brown said. “I’m just excited to move forward and excited to be here with my teammates.”
Last week, Rosenhaus said Brown has worn a Schutt Air Advantage “his whole life.”
“He’s comfortable with this helmet, he can see people trying to hit him, take his head off, knock him out,” Rosenhaus said. “It’s a very physical game, especially for a superstar like Antonio. And having the proper helmet, not only to protect you physically but also to be able to use it visually, was important to him.”
After Mayock’s statement, the Raiders apparently will gauge how important it is.