Brown reportedly said "I'll hit you in the face" before punting a ball away and adding: "fine me for that"
Thursday 5 September 2019 22:33, UK
The Oakland Raiders are planning to suspend wide receiver Antonio Brown after an incident with general manager Mike Mayock on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Brown had posted a letter on social media of a fine he received from the team - sent by Mayock - after he missed practices while resolving a dispute with the NFL over his helmet. The picture was accompanied with the words: "When your own team want to hate."
According to Schefter, Brown's Instagram post led to an exchange, which will result in further discipline. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provided further details, claiming Brown said: "I'll hit you in the face" to Mayock, punted a nearby ball away, and added: "fine me for that."
After Oakland's practice session, Mayock issued a "short and sweet" statement, saying: "Antonio Brown is not in the building today. He won't be practicing.
"I don't have any more information for you right now. When I have some and it becomes appropriate, you guys [the media] will all get it, I promise you.
"But that's it for today."
Brown's bizarre pre-season began with him missing practices after suffering frostbite from entering a cryotherapy machine without the proper footwear.
He then threatened to quit the NFL because the helmet he used was no longer deemed safe by the league, but ultimately returned to practice after losing the grievances filed against the NFL.
It is currently unclear what suspension the Raiders will hand to Brown, who was acquired for third and fifth-round picks from the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this summer.
Teams have the right under the collective bargaining agreement to suspend players for up to four games for conduct detrimental to the team.
A suspension would also void the more than $29m in guarantees over the next two seasons contained in Brown's contract with the Raiders.
"I'm not going to get into any of that stuff right now," Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said. "We'll have an official announcement later."
Gruden said he was frustrated by the situation but that the team is ready to start the season without Brown if necessary.
"We've been going out for practice every day and we adjusted without him," Gruden said. "We never knew sometimes when he was going to practice. So we're good at it. We're good at adapting and adjusting. Unfortunately. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed."
Oakland kick off their season with a home game against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, live on Sky Sports at 3.20am on Tuesday morning.
