Ever since he was benched for the Pittsburgh Steelers final game of the 2018 NFL season it seems like wide receiver Antonio Brown has been in the news each week. First was his quest to get out of Pittsburgh, that was followed by his introduction to the Oakland Raiders, finally, his extended absence from the field during training camp was consistently discussed. In the end, it turns out that the biggest story involving Brown is the one that just recently came out. It has been reported that the All-Pro receiver has threatened to retire from the NFL if he is forced to wear a new helmet. There are many questions that this news inspires and below we will breakdown everything you need to know about Brown, the Raiders, and the NFL’s helmet policy.

Helmet Policy

(Photo courtesy of Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

First, this is not a new rule. The NFL policy on helmets has always been that all products worn on the field must be certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE). Usually, NOCSAE stops certifying helmets after they are 10 years old or more. As part of the policy, the NFL alerts players of this standard and with new technology and equipment being made and updated consistently the hope is to have all players wearing the most up-to-date products. Brown has used a model called the Schutt Air Advantage for the entirety of his career. The model was discontinued by its manufacturer some years ago so naturally, it would not be approved by the NOCSAE anymore. Brown isn’t the only star player who will have to wear a different helmet model in order to play this season. Quarterbacks Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers preferred headgear is also no longer certified by the NOCSAE but both have said they will switch to newer models for the upcoming year—Rodgers has gone so far as to invest in a Seattle-based helmet manufacturer, VICIS. The NFL’s policy doesn’t state that a player will be disciplined if they fail to comply but that the player’s organization will face a penalty if any of their players take the field in a prohibited helmet.

Brown’s Beef

(Photo courtesy of the Oakland Raiders)

Despite Brown’s refusal to change helmets just now hitting the airwaves, the dissatisfaction dates back to earlier in the offseason. NFL Media’s, Michael Silver detailed the situation in full on a thread on his Twitter page. According to Silver, Brown’s discontent was clear from the moment the team acquired him. In May, the team alerted Brown that he would need to wear a different helmet as his previous model had been prohibited by the league and that the league was removing the one-year grace period to switch. Brown felt he was being given different treatment than Rodgers and Brady who’s helmets were grandfathered in last year—Brady switched to a new design during the season but ultimately reverted back to his old model for the postseason. He remained vocal about his displeasure during organized team activities (OTAs) and when training camp opened in Napa, CA. When the Raiders were using helmets for the first time in OTAs, Brown requested his old helmet but was told he couldn’t wear it by the equipment staff, Brown complained but a staffer later would send him footage of Rodgers wearing a newer model during OTAs which seemed to quell the receiver. Shortly after, Brown tried to sneak his former helmet onto the field (even going so far as to have it painted in the Raiders’ silver-and-black colorway) but was once again told that he would not be allowed to wear that model. During training camp, he would try to use the old helmet again and was told once more by the equipment staff that he needed to remove it and wear an approved model.

Raiders’ Feelings

(Photo courtesy of Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

When the team acquired Brown from the Steelers, head coach Jon Gruden raved about the type of player they added to their team and mentioned specifically that the wideout’s work ethic was spectacular, Gruden said, “He keeps going, and going, and going, and going. He just won’t stop. Antonio’s energy is contagious.” In the second year of a mega 10-year, $100 million deal Gruden was ready to right the ship for his beloved friend Mark Davis and the Raiders franchise. The team brought in former NFL Media analyst, Mike Mayock as general manager and bringing in Brown was an immediate feather in the cap of the first-time executive. Yet, with their star acquisition now threatening retirement, the feelings have changed since they first welcomed Brown to the team. In Silver’s thread, he also mentions the unease that the players and coaches have felt about Brown given the litany of issues that have developed in a short time. Most players felt like the helmet issues were settled once the video of Rodgers in a new helmet was shown but as it continues to persist there’s a negative aura surrounding Brown among his teammates. Upper management is losing patience as well. Silver mentions that it is not uncommon for Brown to be distracted—checking his bank account and liking pictures on Instagram—during meetings. Brown’s eccentric personality is not coming off well in his new surroundings. However, if the star receiver gets on the field and makes plays it seems like all will be forgiven.