Antonio Brown rape allegations: NFL interviews accuser, Brown could be next

The league is reportedly "expected to keep the lines of communication open" with Britney Taylor in case additional interviews are necessary.

Amidst rape allegations, wide receiver Antonio Brown made his New England Patriots debut against Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

The Antonio Brown rape investigation appears to be underway.

An NFL investigator traveled on Monday to meet with Britney Taylor, the woman who claimed in a civil lawsuit that the Patriots receiver sexually assaulted and raped her on separate occasions,  according to Yahoo Sports.

The report noted the league is "expected to keep the lines of communication open" with Taylor in case additional interviews are necessary and will next meet with Brown at an unknown date.

The first step is significant since it will allow commissioner Roger Goodell the opportunity to place Brown on the commissioner’s exempt list while the NFL investigates whether he violated the league's personal conduct policy.

But the recent probe of Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott under similar circumstances is a reminder that things can get muddy and prolonged, which is probably why the Patriots reportedly asserted it would not have signed Brown had it been aware of the allegations.

Yahoo Sports had  reported  last week that the NFL would prefer to move "quickly" in determining if Brown should be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, so a decision could come as early as this week while New England prepares to host fellow former Steeler Le'Veon Bell and the Jets.

Brown made his Patriots debut on Sunday, catching four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in the team's shutout win over the Dolphins.

Taylor filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida earlier this month, accusing Brown of sexually assaulting her in three separate incidents, two of which occurred in June 2017. Taylor alleges she was "forcibly raped" by Brown in the other incident, which took place in May 2018.

Brown was then accused by a second woman of sexual misconduct Monday. The unnamed woman, who spoke to Sports Illustrated on the condition of anonymity, declined to press charges but said Brown appeared nude behind her as she was working on a painting at his house in 2017.

There is no criminal investigation into any of the allegations at this time.

Brown has denied all accusations and vowed to fight to clear his name.