According to a report from NBC Sports’ Alex Didion, NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport cited sources familiar with New England owner Robert Kraft’s line of thinking in stating that the Patriots would never have signed receiver Antonio Brown if the rape allegations against him were public knowledge.
There was speculation – and concern – amongst NFL fans that the Patriots may have been aware of the pending sexual assault accusations against Brown when they decided to sign him to their team over the opening weekend of the regular season. Those fears were at least partially allayed when a report came out earlier this week that neither New England nor Oakland could have known about the civil suit, as both Brown and his accuser had signed a confidentiality agreement related to their ongoing discussions.