Antonio Brown has waited nearly 10 months for the NFL to hand down its punishment for his violations of the league’s personal conduct policy.

Brown finally got the word Friday. The former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver will be suspended for the first eight games of the 2020 season, the NFL announced.

The suspension was handed down by NFL special counsel for conduct Todd Jones. The suspensions is for “multiple” violations, the NFL said in a statement. Brown also was directed to continue counseling and treatment for prior legal issues.

The suspension will begin whenever the 32-year-old Brown signs with an NFL team. He has been a free agent since the New England Patriots released him early in the 2019 season after sexual assault allegations by a former personal trainer surfaced.

Ed Wasielewski, an agent with EMG Sports, wrote on Twitter than Brown will not appeal his suspension.

“He is excited to resume his outstanding football career and is looking forward to playing in the 2020 season,” Wasielewski wrote.

Just two weeks ago, Brown wrote on Twitter that he was retiring from football. Then, he changed his mind a couple of days later. The Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks reportedly had shown interest in signing Brown.

Brown’s problems began when he walked out on the Steelers at halftime of their Week 17 game against Cincinnati in 2018. Brown was declared inactive for the game after leaving the team for several days that week following a dispute with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The Steelers traded Brown to Oakland on March 9, 2019, but he never played a regular-season game for the Raiders. In training camp, when the NFL wouldn’t permit Brown to wear his old helmet out of health concerns, he threatened to retire.

Brown had several other transgressions with the Raiders that prompted the team to void the guaranteed portion of his contract. Brown was granted his release Sept. 7, and he signed with New England hours later.

On Brown’s third day with the Patriots, his former trainer, Britney Taylor, filed a lawsuit alleging that he sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. Brown sent threatening texts to Taylor, prompting the Patriots to release Brown. Her case remains unsettled, and the NFL suspension includes a provision that it could be lengthened if violations are found that are related to the civil suit.

In January, Brown had an altercation with a delivery truck driver at his home in Hollywood, Fla. He was charged with felony burglary of a vehicle, misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal mischief. In June, he pleaded no contest and received two years of probation while agreeing to undergo 100 hours of community service and attend a 13-week anger management program.

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