The Patriots apparently weren't the only team willing to give Antonio Brown another chance to play again in the NFL.
Brown's agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN Saturday that the seven-time Pro Bowl receiver "had a lot of options" after the Raiders released him. Rosenhaus also shared details of Brown's one-year deal with the Patriots.
"Antonio had a robust free-agent market and certainly had a lot of options," Rosenhaus said. "But it was hard to compete with New England and that amazing opportunity, that great franchise, and play with one of the all-time greats, Tom Brady, and Bill Belichick."
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Rosenhaus said that while several other teams were interested in Brown, one team in particular "was really aggressive" in pursuing the receiver.
The Patriots have not announced the deal with Brown, but Rosenhaus told ESPN the one-year contract is worth up to $15 million and includes a $9 million signing bonus, another $1 million guaranteed and $5 million in incentives.
Rosenhaus said that Brown understands what is expected of him in New England and he's ready to "fit in."
"I'll just tell you that the Patriots are obviously a very solid, strong organization," Rosenhaus said. "They do things the Patriots Way. They expect everyone to be accountable. They don't make any exceptions. I've discussed this with Antonio. And he wants to be a Patriot. He's prepared to go there, fit in, work hard, be like every other player on the team, do what's asked of him, do his job and make it work. He's honored with the opportunity and he's looking forward to taking advantage of it."
While some are wondering how Brown's stint with the Raiders went so wrong, Rosenhaus blamed "bad luck and just bad circumstances."
"You know there are trades that don't pan out," Rosenhaus said. "Relationships sometimes get off to a bad start and never recover. Unfortunately, this one just didn't work. I don't want the Raiders to get any flak for this because I just think it was a combination of bad luck and just bad circumstances.
"A lot of people focus on the last couple of months of dysfunction and things with Antonio. But what people should remember is that for eight years, he was one of the most rock-solid players in the league — on and off the field. I just don't want people to lose track of that."
Brown celebrated his Patriots deal with an interesting post on Instagram. It shows a cartoon image of Brown in a Patriots uniform sitting on a huge pile of cash. He's holding a phone in one hand and a wad of $100 bills in the other hand. Behind Brown in neon lights is a sign reading, "Business is boomin."