New York Jets should avoid Antonio Brown like the plague

Despite having a need at wide receiver, the New York Jets should steer clear of former Oakland Raiders WR Antonio Brown. Here’s why the Jets will be fine.

A major criticism of the New York Jets offense is their lack of a true No. 1 wide receiver.

One of the best receivers of this generation just became available in a shocking move on Saturday morning.

The final chapter of the Antonio Brown saga was written into stone when he asked for his release on Instagram.

“You are gonna piss a lot of people off when you start doing what’s best for you. And that’s fine! I have worked my whole life to prove that the system is blind to see talent like mines. Now that everyone sees it, they want me to conform to that same system that has failed me all those years. I’m not mad at anyone. I’m just asking for the freedom to prove them all wrong. Release me @Raiders #NoMore”

Antonio Brown takes to IG and asks the Raiders to release him… ?

(?: IG/AB) pic.twitter.com/JNLGxSEnvn

— theScore (@theScore) September 7, 2019

Shortly after the social media post, the Raiders acquiesced to his demands and released the talented wideout.

Here are some of the pertinent details via ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter:

“Antonio Brown does not have to clear through waivers. He now becomes an unrestricted free agent, free to sign where he wants.”

Which means his extension that he signed upon being traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Oakland Raiders is null and void. If AB signs with another NFL club they won’t have to honor the old deal, they’ll re-negotiate their own contract.

We have already explained why the Jets made the correct choice this offseason by pursuing Le’Veon Bell over Antonio Brown. As tantalizing as it may seem to add one of the premier wideouts in the NFL for nothing more than a financial investment, it’s simply not worth it.

Brown is a head case.

A Facebook live incident in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room.

Frostbitten feet.

Helmet grievances.

Threatening his boss.

Asking the team to fine him then getting mad because the team subsequently fined him.

Asking for his release.

There’s no other way to slice it, there have to be a few screws loose upstairs for Antonio Brown.

He’s going to go down as one of the best receivers of all-time, there’s no questioning his talent, but the Jets should stay away.

The locker room is a tender and fragile place, whatever NFL team that decides to bring Brown in needs a strong supporting staff both on the field and off of it.

Adding AB could disrupt the flow and chemistry of a new regime (Adam Gase and Joe Douglas) and even worse could negatively affect the Jets’ No. 1 asset Sam Darnold. Even the possibility of that should cement this as a non-decision for the boys in green.

While the squad doesn’t possess a true No. 1 wideout, their current crop is good enough with guys like Robby Anderson, Jamison Crowder, and Quincy Enunwa. You could do much worse than that.  Sorry AB, there won’t be a reunion with Le’Veon Bell happening in 2019.