Free agent wide receiver Antonio Brown suspended 8 games

As part of Antonio Brown’s announcement that he was coming out of his third retirement, two days after claiming he was retiring, the troubled wide receiver demanded the NFL wrap up their investigation.

Just over a week since Brown’s demand, it appears he has gotten his wish—at least partially. According to Robert Klemko of the Washington Post, Brown has been suspended eight games by the NFL for a violation of the personal conduct policy.

Brown’s suspension will begin Week 1, regardless of if he is signed by then or not. Crucially, this suspension is a result of Brown’s no contest plea in an assault of a moving truck driver and an accusation of sexual misconduct by an artist he hired to paint a mural in his home. It isn’t, however, related to the civil suit filed against him by his former trainer, who is accusing Brown of sexual harassment and sexual assault. That case is scheduled to resume on September 15 and could result in further league punishment.

The Seahawks have previously been connected to Brown this offseason, both by NFL Network’s Mike Silver and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the latter of whom reported earlier this month that Seattle was among teams waiting for clarity on a suspension before pursuing interest further.

Brown’s suspension and pending legal issues, combined with Josh Gordon’s imminent reinstatement, should make a Seahawks signing of Brown unlikely. Regardless, with a suspension now handed down, further clarity on Brown’s situation in 2020 and beyond should come.