The New England Patriots were willing to give something up to get Antonio Brown during the offseason. On Saturday, they got him for nothing but cash.

According to ESPN, the Patriots tried to acquire Brown from the Pittsburgh Steelers in March, but the Steelers weren’t interested in dealing the star wide receiver to a rival. Pittsburgh ultimately traded the 31-year-old to the Oakland Raiders for third- and fifth-round draft picks.

After a chaotic summer which reached a breaking point in recent days, the Raiders cut Brown, allowing the Patriots to sign him to a one-year, $15 million deal which includes a $9 million signing bonus.

The Raiders tried to trade Brown on Thursday, according to Fox Sports, but no team was willing to give up assets for him.

Just when it seemed Brown and the Raiders got through the drama of Brown’s frostbitten feet and his failed crusade to try to wear his old helmet, which no longer meets safety standards, Brown was angry that Raiders GM Mike Mayock fined him for missing a walkthrough. Brown posted a picture of the fine letter to Instagram and confronted Mayock at practice Wednesday, reportedly calling him a “cracker.”

Brown then went from possibly facing a team suspension to apologizing and being in Oakland’s plans for Week 1 to getting fined again, voiding Brown’s guaranteed money. Brown then requested his release, which was granted.

And the Patriots, of all teams, are the beneficiaries.