Representatives for New England Patriots receiver Antonio Brown and Britney Taylor were in discussions over the last few months, but agreed their communication would remain confidential until the filing of Taylor's civil sexual assault lawsuit, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
This, the sources say, is why the Patriots and the Oakland Raiders, who released Brown last weekend, would not have known about the matter unless there was a breach in the confidentiality of those discussions.
Though the exact nature of the talks has not been confirmed, it is common practice for settlement talks to occur before a civil filing.