NFL Coaches Could Be Deposed in Antonio Brown's Sexual Assault Case

NFL head coaches and front-office executives reportedly could be deposed as part of a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault and rape against free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic reported Thursday that Brown's legal team has argued he hasn't been offered an NFL contract because of the ongoing case. In turn, lawyers for Britney Taylor, Brown's former trainer who filed the lawsuit, are seeking communications between teams and the wideout.

The case is scheduled for trial in December, but the discovery process has been slow, which led Broward County Circuit Judge Michael Robinson to order Brown to turn over any correspondence between himself and the Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, per Kaplan.

Brown, 32, has signed contracts with the Raiders, Patriots and Steelers, and there was speculation during the offseason about potential interest from the Bucs.

Taylor's attorneys have sought all NFL communications involving Brown, and they also requested he sit for a psychiatric exam before the trial, but Robinson has so far denied that motion, per Kaplan.

The lawsuit was filed in September 2019, with Taylor accusing Brown of twice sexually assaulting her and later raping her between 2017 and 2018. In June 2017, Brown was said to have kissed Taylor without her permission after exposing himself. Later that month, he allegedly masturbated behind her and ejaculated on her back without her knowledge. 

In May 2018, Taylor said Brown "forcibly raped her" after she refused and told him to stop multiple times.

Brown has denied the allegations and filed a countersuit in November.

He was released by the Patriots after Robert Klemko reported for Sports Illustrated on further allegations of sexual misconduct from another following the lawsuit by Taylor. Following the publication of allegations Brown approached the woman naked with only a towel covering his genitals after employing her to paint a mural at his home, the woman told Klemko she had received threatening text messages from the phone number she previously used to contact Brown.

The Patriots released Brown the day after Klemko's report about the intimidating texts.

The NFL announced in July that Brown would be suspended for the first eight games of the 2020 season for multiple violations of the league's personal-conduct policy. The suspension is active even though he's not currently on a roster, so he'd be eligible to play in Week 9 if signed.

Brown has remained a free agent since his release by the Pats. He posted a statement on Instagram after the NFL levied its punishment:

"I look forward to new beginnings. I want to be the best version of myself on and off the field, and I will do my best to be a great teammate. I appreciate the NFL giving me the opportunity to continue to work on myself and improve.

"I am thankful and grateful for this opportunity to play a game that I truly love and I look forward to joining a new team soon. Thank you to my family and all those that have supported me. I will show the fans my appreciation for this second chance by having the best season of my career."

Brown was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection across nine years with the Steelers before his trade to the Raiders in March 2019. His stay in Oakland lasted less than six months before h was released after disagreements with general manager Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden.

He played one game for the Patriots before he was let go.