Quarterback Tom Brady wants to bring a receiver with him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Brady is interested in playing with receiver Antonio Brown, who spent 11 days with Brady on the New England Patriots amid allegations of sexual assault and rape.
Even with the allegations and even with an NFL investigation into Brown, Brady is interested in bringing Brown to Tampa, where he’d play alongside receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
After the Patriots released Brown, Brady stayed in touch with the receiver. It was apparent on social media, but they also communicated beyond the comment section on Instagram. Brown said on a radio show in Oakland in February that they would like to make a reunion happen.
Brown has grown infamous for erratic behavior. When additional accusations emerged of sexual harassment emerged just days after the civil suit alleging rape, Brown sent intimidating text messages to his second accuser.
The Patriots were Brown’s third team in a six-month span. He forced himself off the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders. He had picked fights with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Raiders general manager Mike Mayock. Tension with each person led to Brown’s exit from the franchise.
His reputation as one of the most talented and one of the most troubled NFL players proceeds him. Maybe Brady wants to play with Brown. But maybe the Buccaneers, who have plenty of talent at receiver, don’t have interest in signing Brown, especially during an NFL investigation and a civil suit.
