This archive report was first published on 11 September 2019.
On September 11, 2019, a lawsuit was filed against Antonio Brown, accusing him of rape. The alleged incidents occurred while Taylor and Brown were Bible study partners at Central Michigan University.
According to the lawsuit, Taylor, 28, has found strength in her faith, family, and the accounts of other survivors of sexual assault. She has decided to speak out, despite the difficulty of the decision.
As a rape victim, Taylor said, 'I have found strength in my faith, my family, and from the accounts of other survivors of sexual assault.' She has chosen to cooperate with the NFL in an investigation.
The NFL's commissioner, Roger Goodell, has the power to discipline players under a personal conduct policy that does not depend on the outcome of legal proceedings. In 2014, the NFL hired specialists in domestic violence cases to conduct their own investigations of allegations.
Antonio Brown, a former Pittsburgh Steelers player, met Taylor at Central Michigan University. He was drafted by the Steelers in 2010 and spent nine years with the team, being named to the Pro Bowl in seven of those years.
However, Brown's time with the Steelers ended unhappily. He pressed for a trade after the 2018 season and joined the Raiders, who rarely saw him in uniform. Brown sat out most of training camp due to a foot injury and league safety rules that prevented him from using his preferred helmet model.
The Raiders ultimately fined Brown $54,000 for failing to practice and conduct detrimental to the team. He later posted the letter to his Instagram account, where he also asked to be cut after the team used provisions in his contract to void about $30 million of the deal.
