Bill Belichick Walks Off After Press Lobs Antonio Brown Questions

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Patriots coach Bill Belichick swatted away questions about Antonio Brown from persistent members of the press then walked off the podium Wednesday morning as the troubled receiver's saga continues to reverberate through the NFL. Belichick's press conference lasted 3 minutes, 50 seconds. He opened talking about Sunday's upcoming game in Miami then made a brief statement saying he wouldn't expand on the Brown situation beyond the statements released by the team and Brown's attorney Tuesday.

Still, every question from reporters was about Brown, who was accused of raping his former trainer in a lawsuit filed Tuesday. The most Belichick revealed was that he expected Brown to practice with the team Wednesday. It will be Brown's first time on the field with the Patriots. When asked if he expected Brown to play Sunday, he said the team was taking it day by day, as they always do.

"We're working on Miami," Belichick repeated.

Brown was accused of raping his former trainer in a civil lawsuit filed Tuesday in the Southern District of Florida, the latest off-field controversy for the All-Pro receiver and first since he signed with New England Monday.

Brown denied the accusations through a statement from his attorney, Darren Heitner. Heitner said Brown and his accuser engaged in consensual sex and the woman tried to benefit from Brown financially.

Brown was signed by the Patriots shortly after he was released by the Oakland Raiders. He is reportedly staying with Tom Brady as he gets situated in New England.

Brown, 31, is wildly talented, but comes with a lot of baggage. His just completed arguably the most prolific six-year stretches by a receiver in NFL history during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The production didn't stop Pittsburgh from trading him to the Raiders in the offseason.

Brown never played a down in Oakland. He was released Saturday following a string of bizarre behavior.

New England agreed to a contract with the All-Pro receiver hours after he was released. Brown's antics included saying he was injured after not using the correct footwear during cryotherapy; not practicing with the team and reportedly threatening to retire due to the NFL banning the old helmet model he used; getting into a heated altercation with Oakland's general manager; posting a video online that included a private conversation between he and his coach; and finally demanding the team release him. His antics cost him $30 million in guaranteed money.