Oakland Raiders: Antonio Brown release may cost playoff run
By Steve Rivera
With the shocking release of Antonio Brown, the Oakland Raiders may have cost themselves a shot at the playoffs as early as this season.
Finally, the nightmare that has been the Antonio Brown versus the Oakland Raiders saga has ended. On Sunday, the Raiders cut the wide receiver they acquired via trade this offseason. And with it, the potential for a shot at the playoffs also leaves town. As AB forces an exit from the Silver and Black, only questions and lost opportunity remain.
First off, the Raiders have talent on both sides of the football. Oakland has made some smart personnel choices in Jon Gruden’s second season. While the debate will rage over whether the trade to acquire AB was one of those, he does provide a potential setback for ”what could have been.”
Without question, Brown would have brought significant offensive production to Oakland. You can make a reasonable argument he could have made quarterback Derek Carr better and a legitimate MVP candidate. Realistically, he would have increased the Raiders 2019 win total above four. And lastly, you can say he could possibly have been the centerpiece of a potential playoff push in Oakland as early as this year.
AB is that kind of player. He’s a receiver who makes a team not just better, but playoff-caliber. That kind of receiver is what quarterbacks dream of when talking pass-catchers. The Raiders knew it, which why Gruden was willing to twist himself into knots to keep him, despite the antics that were rapidly boiling over.
The loss of that kind of weapon almost certainly lowers the Raiders potential for 2019. Brown knew that which is why he believed he was all but untouchable.
Next. 3 reasons the Raiders are better of without Antonio Brown. dark
Oakland will still be better than their 4-12 mark from a season ago. While 8-8 seemed absolutely possible, and still could be, a shot at the postseason seems likely out of reach. Antonio Brown was that kind of volatile talent that could produce an unlikely playoff run. But not now, which may ultimately be a blessing in disguise for the Raiders.