Imagine a world where the rich didn’t get richer on Saturday, where Antonio Brown didn’t agree to join the New England Patriots hours after the Oakland Raiders granted his wish and released him.
A few other teams expressed interest in signing Brown, including the Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks, ESPN reported.
Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, claimed the star wideout’s market was “robust.”
Among those teams were the Browns and Seahawks, whose QB @DangeRussWilson enjoyed working with @AB84 when they were with respective teams. Common theme: Steelers. The Seahawks at Pittsburgh next week. Browns in same AFC North division
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 8, 2019
Meant when Wilson and Brown were working in SoCal when they weren’t with respective teams.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 8, 2019
QUIZ: Can you match the nickname to the National Football League player?
In one of those scenarios, Brown would have joined forces with Odell Beckham Jr. Would there have been enough catches to go around to satisfy two of the game’s most talented — and most mercurial — receivers?
The Seahawks also reportedly expressed interest, and Chris Mortensen tweeted that quarterback Russell Wilson “enjoyed working with” Brown at an offseason workout. Seattle’s top receiver this year is Tyler Lockett after the retirement of Doug Baldwin.
Instead, Brown joins a New England team that also has Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon at the receiver position. Brown can’t play for the Patriots in Week 1 due to the timing of his signing — and it would have been appointment viewing, as the Patriots will face Brown’s first team, the Steelers, on “Sunday Night Football.”
Not mentioned in Mortensen’s report: the Washington Redskins, who were reportedly in the running to trade for Brown back in the spring.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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