Brown a model Buc, receivers coach says
A few more Sundays likely will pass before anyone knows whether the Antonio Brown experiment will enhance the Bucs’ chemistry or blow up in their figurative face.
But less than two weeks in, the controversial 32year-old has remained a positive element, according to receivers coach
Kevin Garver.
“He’s done everything that I’ve asked him to do,” Garver said Wednesday.
“We’re in communication every day. We talk every morning, we talk all throughout the day. We have extra meetings that we do, and he’s done everything that I’ve asked him to do up to this point.”
Targeted five times in Sunday night’s embarrassing 38-3 loss to the Saints, Brown had three catches — all resulting in first downs — for 31 yards. His most glaring glitch occurred just before halftime, when he appeared to pause his route on a deep Tom Brady throw that was intercepted.
“The safety was getting width and then the corner was getting depth there, so he read it a certain way,” Garver said. “He’s supposed to stay on the go [route] there in that situation. … The corner’s giving him a different look than maybe he anticipated.
“He really came out of the game with one mental error which, one week of preparation, I’d say that’s pretty solid,” Garver said.
The contest was Brown’s first since his one-game stint with the Patriots last September. He pleaded no contest in June to a felony burglary with battery charge and two misdemeanor charges after being accused of attacking the driver of a moving van at his Hollywood home. He also is accused of sexual assault by a former trainer in a pending civil lawsuit.
But Garver said the Brown with whom he’s still getting acquainted is “really a funny guy. Big personality, always talking.
“My approach with people is, really, I allow them to determine who they are, so I don’t worry about all that stuff from the past,” Garver added. “I’ve been with him for two weeks, so really that’s what I’m going to make my judgments based off.
“I think that he really did a great job coming in, putting the time in. Really a lot of extra meetings, extra walk-throughs, really handled himself extremely well from a mental standpoint.”
ELSEWHERE
Browns: Cleveland
● quarterback Baker Mayfield was activated from the COVID-19 list and practiced as the Browns (5-3) continued preparing to host the Houston Texans on Sunday. Mayfield had to isolate for several days after he had close contact with a staff member — not a coach — who tested positive for the coronavirus. ... Mayfield’s return coincides with the Browns getting back three starters: running back
Nick Chubb, right guard
Wyatt Teller and tight end Austin Hooper.
●Panthers: Charlotte oach Matt Rhule said that while he doesn’t anticipate running back Christian McCaffrey playing Sunday against Tampa Bay because of a separation of the AC joint in his shoulder, he doesn’t expect McCaffrey to miss the rest of the season.
“It looks like Christian probably won’t play,” Rhule said. “I wouldn’t say that is 100% percent, but I would say it looks like he’s pretty much out for this week and we will see how it is next week.”
McCaffrey did not practice on Wednesday.
●Bengals: Cincinnati bolstered its defensive front by claiming defensive end
Takk McKinley off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons. McKinley, a fourthyear player out of UCLA, was a first-round draft pick of the Falcons in 2017.