Again this is all hypothetical because I don't believe for a second it is happening. But....
The Patriots didn't pay him the $9 million signing bonus. As such, AB filed a grievance. Filing a grievance is basically a voluntary thing which I am sure he could drop at any time should he so desire. So I imagine he could
theoretically get a brand new contract with a brand new signing bonus with the agreement that he drops his grievance. Or they could simply pay the old signing bonus and give him a new deal at league minimum.
How all this would effect the salary cap is beyond the understanding of mortal man. Someone should tweet
@Miguel.
I can help you out on a couple of facts.
1. The $5MM he counts to the cap is going to be on there the entire season REGARDLESS of whether he gets paid or not.
2. IF he ends up NOT getting the $5MM bonus that was supposed to paid this year, then the $5MM can come off, but not until this issue has been fully adjudicated. (whenever that happens) Same goes for the $4.5MM dead money next year.
3. As to whether he eventually gets paid in the end, is a lot more murky than some might lead you to believe, at least as I see it. This sounds like a lot of legal disputes that reach civil court. 2 parties who see sections of laws that they see support THEIR position and feel they are in the right. The key phrase here is TWO parties.
The way I see it. The CBA has pretty clear language within its articles that would lead you to believe that Brown has got to be paid. HOWEVER there is also pretty clear language within the contract Brown signed AND the League OK'd, that show he violated those guarantees and thus should NOT be paid the bonuses.
TWO sides who seem to have strong cases just like many civil suits. It will be a matter of a Judge to decide which legal document has precedence.
4. I've been thinking about the idea of bringing AB back and what it would take for me to welcome it. And to my surprise I actually came up with a set of conditions that would get me to support such a move.
1. A public apology to the woman he sent that email to and her children. He can couch it in claiming he didn't realize that it could be taken as a threat, but he now realizes that it could and he's sorry that he put her family in that position, or something to that effect BTW - it also wouldn't hurt, if he just settled the damned suit.
2. The NFL comes out and said that based on THEIR investigation they see no reason why Antonio Brown can't play football this season. Or something to the effect that he won't be put on the exempt list this season.
3. A public apology to Kraft and the Patriots for putting them in a bad public light. He can couch it again by saying that at the time he didn't realize the consequences of his actions, but now he does and hopes in the future he will be more self aware Yada Yada Yada.....and he's ready to get back to work.
If THOSE items were ever to occur then I'd be on board to welcome him back for the rest of the season.