Trent Brown’s Turbulent Time with Patriots Comes to an End
The New England Patriots are bidding farewell to Trent Brown as his contract voids at the close of the league’s business day. The departure marks the end of a progressively tumultuous tenure with the team, with dissatisfaction evident on both sides during the previous season. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on January 19th that Brown’s contract with the Patriots will void today, making him a free agent on March 13.
Brown initially joined the Patriots in 2018 and played a crucial role in their Super Bowl victory. However, he left for the Raiders before returning to New England in 2021 with two years remaining on his deal. Despite a solid start, Brown’s 2023 season was plagued by inconsistency and injury, limiting his playing time to just 11 games and 55 percent of offensive snaps. In the latter half of the season, Brown voiced his frustrations about leaks and information reaching the media.
As Brown’s contract voids, the Patriots will carry a $2 million dead cap into 2024 from his previous contract. Although there is a slim chance of a contract extension before the voiding, it is unlikely given the dissatisfaction experienced by both parties. Brown now prepares for his upcoming free agency, eager to find a new team for the next season. (Via Brown’s IG)
BROWN DENIES TARDINESS AND SMEAR CAMPAIGN
In a shocking turn of events, NFL star Antonio Brown has come forward to refute reports about his alleged tardiness and the narrative that suggests he openly discusses playing for other organizations. Brown claims that there is someone within the organization who is running a “smear campaign” against him.
“It’s been a rough year,” Brown revealed in an exclusive interview with NESN.com. “I’ve never experienced anything like this in my entire NFL career. Anonymous sources have been spreading complete lies about my character, and it’s been incredibly difficult to go into the building every day knowing that there’s someone I interact with regularly who is trying to tarnish my reputation.”
Addressing the rumors of him openly discussing joining another team, Brown vehemently denied ever making such statements. “I never said that,” he stated firmly. “Especially not after a win. If anything, I was frustrated with my performance in the Pittsburgh game. But I was happy that we secured the victory. I would never detract from the team’s success by talking about anything else. My focus has always been on my current situation and trusting that I am where I am meant to be.”
With Brown’s departure from the New England Patriots, the team now faces the challenge of solidifying the left tackle position. Last season, Conor McDermott and Vederian Lowe rotated alongside Brown in that role. As the offseason approaches, the Patriots have an opportunity to address this pressing need and strengthen their offensive line for the upcoming season. This becomes even more crucial if the team plans to start a rookie quarterback in 2024.
The offensive line is in such dire need of revamping that experts are considering the possibility of the Patriots selecting an offensive lineman with the third overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Prominent website NFLdraftbuzz.com has ranked Notre Dame’s Joe Alt and Penn State’s Olu Fashanu as the top two offensive linemen available. If the Patriots decide to acquire a veteran quarterback through free agency and pass on wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., fans can expect the team to kickstart their offensive line rebuild with one of these promising prospects.
Colin Lynch, an NFL reporter, covers the latest developments in the league. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
According to the Source heavy.com