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A20 SPORTS
Thursday 12 sepTember 2019

Patriots’ Brown faces rape accusations by former trainer

By JAY COHEN Brown, as well as the re- and flexibility.
AP Sports Writer sponse by Antonio’s rep- According to the lawsuit,
New England Patriots wide resentatives,” the Patriots Taylor was sexually assault-
receiver Antonio Brown has said in a statement. “We ed by Brown on separate
been accused of rape by a take these allegations very training trips to Pittsburgh
former trainer. seriously. Under no circum- and Florida that same
Britney Taylor says Brown stance does this organi- month. The suit includes
sexually assaulted her on zation condone sexual what it says are text mes-
three occasions, accord- violence or assault. The sages from Brown bragging
ing to a lawsuit filed Tues- league has informed us about the second assault.
day in the Southern District that they will be investigat- Taylor says in the suit she
of Florida. ing. We will have no further then cut off ties with Brown.
Brown has denied the al- comment while that investi- But she agreed to work with
legations. Darren Heitner, a gation takes place.” him again after she says he
lawyer representing Brown, The 31-year-old Brown, a apologized and agreed to
told The Associated Press Miami native, was released provide hotel accommo-
his client plans to counter- New England Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown (1) works out by Oakland last week af- dations for each training
sue. near wide receiver Gunner Olszewski, left, during an NFL football ter clashing with the team trip.
“He will pursue all legal rem- practice, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. throughout training camp. According to the lawsuit,
edies to not only clear his Associated Press He agreed to a contract Taylor and Brown were in
name, but to also protect forward publicly, but Taylor Speaking out removes the with New England on Satur- Miami in May 2018 when
other professional athletes was identified in the federal shame that I have felt for day but has yet to play for he raped her in a bedroom
against false accusations,” lawsuit and was quoted in the past year and places it the Patriots. at his home. Taylor says she
Heitner said in a statement. a statement provided by on the person responsible Brown and Taylor met shouted “no” and “stop,”
Heitner said Brown and Tay- her lawyer, David Haas. for my rape.” through a Fellowship of but Brown refused.
lor had “a consensual per- “As a rape victim of Antonio A spokesman for the NFL Christian Athletes group at Heitner said in his state-
sonal relationship.” Brown, deciding to speak declined to comment, but Central Michigan Universi- ment Taylor invited her-
The New York Times first re- out has been an incredibly the Patriots said the league ty, according to the lawsuit. self to join Brown and his
ported about the lawsuit. difficult decision,” Taylor told the team it will launch Taylor said Brown reached friends on a night out on
The AP does not typically said. “I have found strength an investigation. out to her via Facebook in the town, and then came
identify people who say in my faith, my family, and “We are aware of the civil June 2017 and asked the on to Brown before they
they are victims of sexual from the accounts of other lawsuit that was filed ear- former gymnast for help engaged in consensual sex
assault unless they come survivors of sexual assault. lier today against Antonio with improving his strength at his residence.q