Episode 3: Raiders Can Still Survive The Brown Saga

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The last episode of "Hard Knocks" offered a lesson of perception versus reality.

From the outside, the tragedy around Antonio Brown looks like a terrible situation for the Raiders. How could it be otherwise? Here is Oakland's best player, his valued off-season acquisition, which makes decisions that seem to place personal interest above the team. In his last season in Pittsburgh, Brown was described as egocentric, distant and obtuse – it looked more or less the same. To make matters worse, NFL Films has magnetic card access to all building doors for its flagship docuseries. All of this contributes to the organizational nightmare fuel of the Silver & Black.

But here's the thing: the Raiders do not seem to be a team torn apart by their mercurial star. On "Hard Knocks", we attended a professionally run training camp, made up of players and coaches who really seem to like being close to each other. Maybe everything is ocular. Maybe I'm just another stupid consumer who is sucked by reality TV made. But when Jon Gruden told a Raiders staffer, "I credit him for defending what he believes in. All the others in this country," I believe.

Is it possible that the Raiders have a soundproof, camera-free panic room, adjacent to Gruden's office, where it can completely destroy a full Ikea show every time AB becomes AWOL? Yes it is possible. But I think the real story here is that Gruden has been in regular communication with his wide star receiver, the guarantee since the beginning of this saga, and these good vibrations have allowed the coach to keep this situation – as unusual that boring it can be – to become something much uglier.

And why do I think that? Because Tuesday we heard from Brown himself.

"Thanks for supporting me, coach," Brown said during a calm workout. "My head, feet behind me, you are the constant bearer."

A day later, Brown disappears again because of the helmet problem. Managing Director Mike Mayock delivers his speech to the press, essentially inviting Brown to stand in line. Mayock did what he had to do as GM; Gruden does what he has to do as a head coach. This is not quite a good cop / bad cop, but it's something close.

"The feet feel a lot better," Brown told a producer of "Hard Knocks" earlier in the week. "I've got a brand new skin, I've cut everything out." It's been a trip, man, but I feel a lot better. Working with the NFL, getting the right equipment, I've worked I mean, I want to say, I want to give it to my teammates, so, hopefully, quickly, go ahead and go to work.

"You know, too much noise right now.No more work, less noise.I have the impression of being enemy of the tiring state.F — .I am going I'm on all channels, in fact, AB is a good player, really a good player, and he's nice to see, by the way, so that's it.

Brown is a handful. there is no doubt. But Gruden could be the right coach, at the right time, so that it does not turn into a toxic and destructive situation that many people thought inevitable.

Quick shots

– One last remark about Brown: when Mayock released his "all or nothing" ultimatum, the language used in his comments led you to wonder if Brown's repeated absences had created friction with his teammates. But then you look at "Hard Knocks" and Brown seems to be the best lawful friend of everyone. I know the NFL is different from what it was and the guys from all the teams mingle, but Brown has literally become a Raider and has missed many team activities. How is it supertight with dozens of teammates? He's even with Burfict!

– Dude, a lot of guys are very sensitive to their hair, so I turned to rookie Hunter Renfrow, who gets teased by his teammates to look older than his 23 year old. "I'm not really that old," Renfrow told Derek Carr. "My grandfather's hair is like that, it's just our hair … it's not like he was retiring"Aw, his grandfather.

Speaking of Renfrow, he joins the David Njoku All-Stars, my collection of rookies "Hard Knocks" whose softness, the sexy HBO highlights, push me to target them later in my fantasy project. Hunter Renfrow can not be overcast in slow motion.

– You know, I imagine that it is not easy to be Mike Glennon. Never forget that the Bears invited him to attend a project night with the fans, then chose his replacement with their first choice. And now he has Frank Caliendo coming out of the bushes to make jokes on the length of his neck? Damn.

– Luke Willson is this guy. The long-haired veteran is closing in the game "Hard Knocks" and I will be very upset if he does not win a job outside the camp. This is a Canadian who loves Ozzy Osbourne's solo records, hates how his calves make him self conscious and strives not to be impressed by the Golden Gate Bridge. Big Red wins out however.

– About long-haired friends who know how to party, give up on Jamie Hepner, scientist of applied sport and Antonio Brown's work buddy. AB says, "Men lie, women lie, but not analyzes."

– Cardinals rookie Kyler Murray to Brown after being heavily blitzed in a pre-season affair: "Why do they have to bring me home?" There will be at least one talking head show tomorrow asking if this is a sign of immaturity for choice # 1.

– Gruden does at least one thing every week that makes me angry because of the, well, inherent JON GRUDENNESS of all this. At the end of the preparatory game against the Cardinals, Gruden chats with Johnathan Abram and Carr, members of the rookie security team, when the coach launches a totally unexpected monologue on the incredible global talent of the 39; former Chargers and Patriots security team, Rodney Harrison. When it is clear that Abram – 12 years old, when Harrison retired in 2008 – mentally verified, Gruden moves away and whispers: "You do not even know who it is. " Pretty.

– Quote of the week: "Why do not you do something funny here tonight, Frank?" – Jon Gruden to Frank Caliendo

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus. To learn more about Hanzus, check out his weekly NFL Power Rankings and listen to the Around The NFL podcast three times a week.

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