Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner was due to be a free agent next week. But then Browner was suspended.
Now, he has been unsuspended. Browner has announced on Twitter that he has been reinstated by the league.
“I received wonderful news today,” Browner said. “The NFL has reinstated me, and I now have the opportunity to prove to the fans and my teammates how important this sport is to me. I realize now more than ever that being part of the NFL is not a right, but a privilege. I am grateful that Commissioner Goodell and my agent were able to resolve this issue in a positive, productive manner so I can continue my career, provide for my family, and help my team win a Super Bowl. Thank you to all who have gone out of their way to show their support. I will live up to your expectations of me.”
It means that Browner will be a free agent next week, joining a market that includes cornerbacks like Aqib Talib, Vontae Davis, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Sam Shields. It also means that the league has opted to lift the suspension as part of a negotiation launched in the wake of the news from last week that Browner planned to sue the NFL.
It’s unclear whether Browner has been reinstated with no strings attached, or whether he’ll have to serve a suspension (e.g., two, four, or six games) after participating in offseason workouts, training camp, and the preseason. Previously, he was banned from all activities until December 2014.
Look for more details to come soon. Potentially interested teams need to know whether and to what extent Browner will be unavailable as of Week One before they decide whether to attempt to sign him.
For now, he’s seven days away from being available to be signed by anyone.