Antonio Brown may have lost his grievance against the NFL, but if an NBC Sports’ report on Monday night is accurate, AB may still get to wear an old relic on his head this year after all.
Apparently, all Brown needs to do is find a Schutt AiR Advantage helmet that is less than 10 years old and he’s all set.
Via NBC Sports ProFootballTalk:
“Brown can’t use his preferred helmet — a Schutt AiR Advantage — in 2019, because that specific helmet is more than 10 years old. However, because the NFL has not affirmatively banned from use the Schutt AiR Advantage, Brown apparently could use one that is less than 10 years old, if he can find one.
A PFT reader communicated directly with the NOCSAE on this subject, and Executive Director/General Counsel Michael Oliver has confirmed to PFT via email that, indeed, the NOCSAE continues to recertify Schutt AiR Advantage helmets that are less than 10 years old.“
NFL teams evidently stopped supplying Brown’s preferred helmet model 10 years ago, but apparently there are a few newer models out there.
In fact, our buddy Raider Cody has already found one for sale on EBay.
Brown conceded his battle with the league on Monday afternoon in a social media post, but it’s fair to wonder if he hasn’t already figured out a way to kick the can down the road another year. And if he’s successful, it will be interesting to see if any other players utilize the same loophole.
Brown took a lot of criticism over the past few days for what appeared to maybe be an overly aggressive effort to change the league’s requirements on helmets, but whatever was going on while he was away, it should have at least given his feet enough time to finally heal.
If all goes as planned Brown will be back at practice tomorrow and we’ll learn all about it at 10:00 PM in the second episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks.
twitter: @raidersbeat
I believe people need to get off this man’s back.Once he is healthy he will put up some big numbers and help this team in a big way