For Antonio Brown, a Rape Accusation Raises a Question of Privilege in the N.F.L.

Antonio Brown as a Pittsburgh Steeler last season, warming up before a game against the Denver Broncos.CreditCreditJustin Edmonds/Getty Images

This is the second piece in our four-part series about offensive position groups in the NFL. Part 1 is on quarterbacks. Part 3 is wide receivers. Part 4 is tight ends.

One great running back can carry an offense. A stable filled with them can transform one, though.

The NFL’s transition away from top-heavy backfields hasn’t come full circle yet, but the amount that can be devastated by a single injury continues to dwindle. Versatile running back rotations have become the norm rather than an exception, giving teams the opportunity to showcase a wide variety of ground options and a way to embarrass slow-footed linebackers through the air. A deep vein of multi-purpose backs can plaster over holes elsewhere in the offense and open up game-changing gaps for their offenses downfield.

So who does it best?

After ranking 2019’s backup quarterback situations, I decided to take on the running back (and, in a few cases, fullback) rotations that offer the most support to their clubs. The result was a lineup 1-32 of the NFL’s most potent backfields.

This array doesn’t only count star power at the top. The lineup is a look at depth and versatility at running back, so while stars like Todd Gurley, Saquon Barkley, and Christian McCaffrey may lead individual tailback listings, a relative lack of power behind them ultimately kept their groups from cracking the top five. The teams at the top of the rankings are the ones that can carve up a defense in a hundred different ways both on the ground and through the air — and the ones that won’t get derailed if their No. 1 back goes down.

Injuries and depth-sapping trades have already taken a toll on these rankings. The 49ers, once the deepest group in the league, dropped from the top spot into 10th, and even their place there depends on Matt Breida and Tevin Coleman being able to complement each other to drive an offense that badly needs playmakers. The Texans escaped from the bottom five only as long as Carlos Hyde can prove he’s not washed.

So, with an eye on depth, power, and flexibility in mind, let’s take a look at the strongest — and weakest — backfields in the league.

Brown has denied the accusations in a statement from his lawyer, and on Wednesday his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said in an interview with ESPN: “I’m advising him to let the truth come out. I’m advising him to concentrate on football. I’m advising him to cooperate with the Patriots, with the N.F.L., with the N.F.L. Players Association. Antonio and I both strongly believe that these allegations are very serious. In no way do we condone any type of illegal conduct, misbehavior. None of that happened here.”

Late Tuesday night, the Patriots issued a statement saying that the N.F.L. planned to do its own investigation of the accusations.

The league, after mishandling reports of violence against women in the past, strengthened its personal conduct policy in 2014 — when some prominent players, including the running back Ray Rice, were charged with abuse or domestic violence, then later suspended. But enforcement of the policy remains complicated, with the league meting out punishments that appear inconsistent and struggling to get the cooperation of those involved.

Brown practiced Wednesday with the New England Patriots, who officially signed him on Monday, two days after he was released by the Oakland Raiders. But he has not commented publicly on the allegations, and remaining silent — no provocative Instagram stories or elaborately produced videos — must be sapping his willpower.

Exploring a Timeless Wilderness, Before the Drilling Begins

Brown attended his first practice as a New England Patriot on Wednesday.CreditSteven Senne/Associated Press

Brown’s talent granted him certain privileges that were not extended to teammates who did not regularly catch 100 passes or score 10 touchdowns per season. And as well as any superstar, he has leveraged his superior production to his advantage and for everyone’s entertainment. Whether co-starring in a Drake video or flouting fines for yet another instantly memed touchdown celebration, Brown has cultivated a following that strains to see what he can possibly do next.