Why the Packers shouldn’t consider signing Antonio Brown
The Green Bay Packers shouldn’t sign wide receiver Antonio Brown.
On Saturday, the Oakland Raiders released seven-time Pro Bowler Antonio Brown. And while the thought of Aaron Rodgers throwing to a receiver duo of Brown and Davante Adams is certainly interesting, the Packers should avoid signing him.
Brown doesn’t need to clear waivers and is free to sign with any team, but Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst shouldn’t even consider offering him a contract.
In terms of talent, there’s no doubting just how good Brown is. The former Steelers receiver has at least 1,200 receiving yards in each of the past six seasons. He’s put up double-digit touchdowns in four of those seasons, and led the NFL in that category last year, finding the end zone 15 times.
Davante Adams finished second with 13 touchdowns last year. Between them, Brown and Adams have caught a combined 71 touchdown passes since the start of 2016. That’s quite incredible.
It’s understandable why many fans might want to see the Packers bring in Brown. If there are no off-the-field issues and he’s playing at his best, Green Bay could have by far the best receiving corps in the league, and one that would be almost impossible for defenses to stop.
But there’s a reason why such a talented player is currently available.
There’s also a reason why the Steelers were willing to trade Brown to Oakland for third- and fifth-round selections, and why the Raiders have already decided to release him despite giving up those draft picks.
From concerns over his helmet, to reportedly facing a potential suspension by the Raiders, to not being suspended, to now being released.
The off-the-field issues could be a distraction for the Packers, and something they should avoid. Head coach Matt LaFleur spoke about “coming together as a team”, and that sure looked to be the case when LaFleur addressed the players following their Week 1 win at Chicago.
On Thursday night, the Packers had the look of a team that has bought into LaFleur’s message and philosophy. They played as a team. And importantly, they picked up a huge divisional victory on the road.
Next. Stock up, stock down for Packers after Week 1 win. dark
Yes, there are improvements needed to be made. Could a player as talented as Brown improve the offense in a big way? Absolutely. But is signing him worth the gamble? Absolutely not.