Why are the Seahawks reportedly interested in Antonio Brown now?

A pretty surprising report involving the Seattle Seahawks came to light Wednesday afternoon, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter naming them as the team above all the rest in the NFL interested in signing troubled free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Seahawks reunite with veteran LB Mychal Kendricks

No, you’re not reading an old story from this summer. Antonio Brown and the Seahawks really are once again being linked in rumors.

With Antonio Brown’s suspension eligible to end after week 8, the Seattle Seahawks are now positioned to make a push to sign him, though they’re not alone, league sources tell ESPN. Other teams also are interested. pic.twitter.com/ykn1NJ6LUm

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 21, 2020

The big question is, why?

Brown’s last couple years have been worrisome, to say the least. He pleaded no contest on June 12 to charges stemming from a fight with a moving truck driver and has been accused of sexual assault and rape. He’s also displayed erratic behavior, been released by both the Raiders and Patriots and had an acrimonious exit from Pittsburgh.

The 32-year-old Brown is still considered to be an elite athlete on the football field and turned heads over the offseason when he worked out with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, which only added fuel to the fire when it came to rumors of Seattle taking a chance on signing him. And now the NFL has made it clear that Brown’s suspension will end after eight weeks into the season, which opens up the possibility of him playing in 2020.

The Seahawks already have a suspended receiver under contract, however, in Josh Gordon. So once again, why would they be looking into adding Brown to an already explosive offense that is currently scoring touchdowns at an historic rate? Jake Heaps, co-host of 710 ESPN Seattle’s Tom, Jake and Stacy and a former Seahawks QB, shared his thoughts Wednesday.

“The NFL coming out saying this is only going to be the eight-game suspension… gives teams the comfort, you could say, of signing him knowing that there’s not anything else legally that’s going to detract Antonio Brown from playing or limit him from playing,” Heaps said.

But what about Gordon and the Seahawks? Heaps wondered if this is a situation that requires reading between the lines.

“The NFL is not going to make statements about Josh Gordon not being successful in his return,” he said, adding that could be what’s leading Seattle to look at other options. “(It could be that) Josh unfortunately is not doing what he needs to do in order for the league to feel comfortable reinstating him. And if that’s the case already heading into Week 7 of the NFL season, the Seattle Seahawks cannot sit there and expect and rely on Josh Gordon getting reinstated.

“Now you know that Antonio Brown is having the opportunity to come back after eight weeks, that’s why you start to head in that direction if you’re the Seahawks. That’s the reason why I think you’re getting to this road of potentially the Seahawks signing Antonio Brown and adding to an already explosive offense.”

You can hear Heaps’ full comments during the Four-Down Territory segment of Wednesday’s edition of Tom, Jake and Stacy in the podcast at this link or in the player below.

Follow Brent Stecker on Twitter.

Moore: The Seahawks’ seven most underpaid players this season

Follow @BrentStecker