Raiders Void Antonio Brown’s Guarantees, WR Asks For Release

If you can possibly believe it, the Antonio Brown saga has taken yet another turn this AM. The Raiders wide receiver just posted a lengthy Instagram post that ended with him asking for his “release” from the organization (via Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com on Twitter).

“I have worked my whole life to prove that the system is blind to see talent like mines,” Brown wrote. “Now that everyone sees it, they want me to conform to that same system that has failed me all those years. “I’m not mad at anyone. I’m just asking for the freedom to prove them all wrong.” Release me @raiders.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter provides a bit of context (via Twitter), noting that Brown was fined $215K last night for “conduct detrimental to the team” (stemming from an incident earlier this week). Thanks to the fine, the Raiders voided the more than $29MM worth of guaranteed money on the receiver’s contract. Schefter adds that the Raiders also sent Brown a letter stating that he “no longer will be entitled to termination pay” should he be released.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jeff Darlington tweets that he received an email from Brown this morning, with the wideout lamenting that the organization “took away my guarantees.” The receiver added that there’s “no way I play after they took that and made my contract week to week.”

Even with the financial context, “release me” could still be up for interpretation, potentially providing the player and organization with one more out. Considering Brown’s erratic behavior throughout the offseason, one could argue that Brown was asking the organization to ‘let him be himself.’ On the flip side, after days of reports that the Raiders could look to void the receiver’s guarantees before ultimately releasing him, perhaps Antonio could have opted for a better word. Considering the twists and turns of this ordeal, either explanation wouldn’t be all that surprising.

Last night, Brown remained on track to suit up for the Raiders’ Week 1 game against the Broncos on Monday night in Oakland. This revelation followed a confrontation with Mike Mayock, an incident for which Brown was fined (not suspended). Then, last night, Brown shared a video that revealed his private conversation with head coach Jon Gruden.

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