Antonio Brown Rumors: Tom Brady Suitors Had 'Impression' QB Wanted to Add WR

Teams that pursued quarterback Tom Brady in free agency were reportedly "under the impression" that Brady wanted to reunite with free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport seconded the report and added that Brady and Brown are close despite only playing together for one game last season before the New England Patriots released Brown.

It was reported by multiple sources Tuesday night, including Rapoport, that Brady agreed to a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that will pay him up to $30 million per year.

Brown is still under investigation by the NFL.

One woman said he sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions, and a second woman said he engaged in sexual misconduct and later sent her intimidating text messages. The Patriots released him after Sports Illustrated published the texts.

Brown has had legal issues since his short stint with the Patriots that are unrelated to the aforementioned allegations, including his arrest and subsequent burglary and battery charges for allegedly getting physical with a moving company truck driver in January.

He apologized for his actions during an interview with ESPN's Josina Anderson in February and referred to himself as "the cancer of the NFL."

However, he seemingly made a positive impression on Brady.

Brady invited Brown to live with him after the Patriots signed him, and he caught the attention of many earlier this month when he responded to a tweet in which Brown suggested he had been humbled:

"

❤️ https://t.co/haqSUTiNLS

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) March 6, 2020"

In their one game together, Brown finished with four receptions for 56 yards and one touchdown despite having limited practice and preparation time.

During the nine previous seasons, he was one of the NFL's top wideouts with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a four-time first-team All-Pro, and he finished with at least 100 receptions for 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns in six straight seasons from 2013 to 2018.

The Bucs don't necessarily need Brown since they have a pair of Pro Bowl wide receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, as well as tight end O.J. Howard, but adding Brown could make one of the NFL's most explosive offenses even better.