NFL notebook: No big trades; Bucs activate ‘AB’
While NFL trade-deadline day was a dud, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have activated their new stud, Antonio Brown.
The controversial wide receiver is officially back on an active NFL roster, after the Bucs elevated him Tuesday.
This, after “AB” spent more than 13 months in exile attributable to months of unbalanced, bizarre, reprehensible and even criminal behaviours, as well as unproven allegations of past despicable personal conduct that includes rape.
To make room for the 32-year-old four-time all-pro, the Bucs waived WR Cyril Grayson.
The Bucs (6-2) play host Sunday night to the New Orleans Saints (5-2) in a battle for first place in the NFC South — one of the marquee games of the NFL season so far.
How much will Brown play?
“It really depends on how the game goes,” Bucs head coach Bruce Arians said Tuesday. “He’ll have his role. It could be 10 plays, it could be 35 plays. I wouldn’t anticipate 60 plays, for sure, but we’ll just see how it goes”
Arians underscored in simple terms what Brown must do to succeed in Tampa Bay: “He has to handle his own business off the field. On the field, you find your role, accept it, embrace it, make sure you’re making the right plays and we’ll get you the ball.”
ONLY TWO MORE TRADES
There were no blockbusters, nor even ho-hum trades. Just a couple of the most minor deals before the NFL’s trade deadline Tuesday afternoon.
The New England Patriots acquired a replacement slot receiver for Julian Edelman, who’s on IR with a knee injury. It’s Isaiah Ford, from New England’s division rival Miami Dolphins.
Ford has caught 18 passes for 184 yards this season.
No team could give up less in a trade — a seventh-round draft pick not next year but a year later: 2022.
Miami then was involved in the other Tuesday trade, with the player going their way. The Dolphins acquired backup Chiefs RB DeAndre Washington and a seventh-round 2021 pick, for a sixth-round 2021 pick.
NFL Network said Green Bay tried to acquire speedy wideout Will Fuller V from Houston but the two sides “couldn’t agree on value.”
EXTRA POINTS
Reports said Seattle waived Canadian fan-favourite TE Luke Willson of LaSalle, Ont., although the eighth-year pro might wind up on the Seahawks’ 16-man practice squad, if he clears waivers. Willson got only 10 offensive snaps in the five games he dressed in, without being targeted by Russell Wilson … Philadelphia waived TE Jason Croom … San Francisco won’t have RB Tevin Coleman (knee injury) Thursday against Green Bay … Reports said surgery might be the right option for Niners QB Jimmy Garoppolo to fix his latest high ankle sprain, and if that’s the case his season will be done.
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