Emergency Take: A.B. Edition

I didn't think I got HBO, but when the premiere of Hard Knocks approached, I was about to give in...Then I discovered that I've been getting HBO all along. Will wonders never cease?

(Side note: I've enjoyed my offseason absence and appreciate y'all keeping the lights on as always. I've been at this for 15 years or so now, so perhaps you can forgive me for losing a bit of steam lately)

I enjoyed the first episode of Hard Knocks. One of my main takes from it: Abram better be ready to back up his bluster. Cheeky is one thing, disrespectful is another. He's walking a fine line and he better be ready for his Welcome to The NFL moment once the games count. 

But that's not the real story, nor did Hard Knocks give us the real story on Antonio Brown. Oh, we got a lot of references to "foot problems," but no insight into what they were or how they happened. Now we know, of course. But even crazier is this whole "helmet" issue and "radio silence" news that's breaking today, look it up if you haven't seen it.

I don't know if it's all true, but there's too much smoke there for there not to be a pretty big fire. 

Honestly, I've been bracing myself for something here. Not just only because it's Antonio Brown, but also because it's the Raiders. Randy Moss, Javon Walker, etc. Our history with big splash WR signings is littered with clown show material, and so here we are again. 

That said, if these reports are true, it's gotten nuttier much faster than even the most jaded observer could have expected. 

Let's hope all the nonsense is confined to camp and that A.B. hits the ground running once the season starts, because if he doesn't, it could get real ugly.