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New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft would not have approved the signing of controversial wide receiver Antonio Brown had he know about the sexual assault and rape allegations, according to reports.
In a report from NFL’s Ian Rapoport, sources said that had the Patriots known about the sexual assault allegations against Brown made by former trainer Britney Taylor, Kraft would not have “signed off on the signing.”
Sources have said that neither the Patriots, nor the NFL, knew of the coming charges against Brown prior to his signing in New England. Had the team known, one person familiar with the situation said, owner Robert Kraft would not have signed off on the signing.
Brown is compelled to cooperate with the league and be truthful, as per personal conduct policy, and one source said he will do so. [NFL]
Despite the allegations of rape made against the mercurial wide receiver, Brown is set to make his debut for the defending Super Bowl champions today when New England travels to Miami to take on the lowly Dolphins. The Patriots are currently favored by 18.5 points in that game.
Taylor, who Brown met while the pair were both students at Central Michigan University, alleges that the mercurial wide receiver sexually assaulted her on three separate occasions. In the civil suit, Taylor — who used to Brown’s trainer — alleges that he sexually assaulted three separate times between 2017 and 2018, including one instance that allegedly saw the former Raiders wide receiver forcibly rape her.
Taylor is set to meet with the NFL about the allegations on Monday, as the NFL is set to “fast-track its investigation” into the allegations made again Brown, according to Ian Rapoport.
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Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Contact him: eric@brobible.com.