It’s only been three days since Buccaneers’ wide receiver Antonio Brown walked off the field mid-game to much animosity, but the numerous updates have been nearly as dramatic as his exit. 
By now, I certainly don’t need to recap the origin of this conversation, but, in case you’ve been living under a rock, you can read about how Brown left the field mid-game due to a disagreement over playing with a lingering ankle injury and how head coach Bruce Arians made his stance clear that he wanted Brown off the team, but, up to this point in time, Tampa Bay has not released him in order to keep him from joining an opposing team.
In case this soap opera was not entertaining enough, the NFL washed their hands of the matter today, according to a tweet from Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud, claiming that Brown is not subject to the league’s personal conduct policy.
In the same day, Brown appeared on the team’s injury report with the designation “Not Injury Related – Personal,” while Arians said Brown’s roster status is a management decision, making it clear that Brown is not part of the team going forward.
If this is too much drama for you, I’ve got bad news. Later in the day, Brown’s attorney, Sean Burstyn, posted a Twitter thread wherein he, on behalf of his client, accused Tampa Bay of the fairly serious acts of ordering his client to play with a known and documented injury and then attempting to cover up their malfeasances by asking Brown to take the blame off of them and to put it on mental illness. He calls out the team for disowning his client while still retaining his client’s rights and promises a future statement from Brown, which came about an hour later.
Adam Schefter, of ESPN, tweeted out the typed-up statement that details the entire confrontation, as well as its precursors and after-effects, from Brown’s point-of-view. Brown pulls no punches in the statement, doubling down on his lawyer’s accusations and painting a portrait of a domineering organization that has no regard for his physical or mental health.
There’s sure to be a rebuttal from Tampa Bay, but, usually in media, the loudest voice is the most recent. And just like he says his “business” will be next season when he’s healthy, right now, Brown’s voice is “BOOMIN!”
Well, that’s one way to get ahead of a story.
Did that lawyer get an advance on his fees? Might be wise.
Well that escalated quickly.
This is awesome
You know how an employer may hire a PI to catch you faking an injury and get out of workman’s comp? Bro was on LIVE TV jumping up and down in said injured ankle.
That obviously doesn’t help Brown’s case, but if an MRI proves what he claims, TB could be in some fairly serious trouble. If true, everything about this is illegal. But Brown’s word isn’t exactly worthy a whole lot, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
After receiving a very extensive painkiller that boosted his adrenaline….not the same as running a play on the field at game speed.
you know this how? or just something you made up?
Next year, he might be “BOOMIN'”, but nobody will be “CALLIN'”.
Hope AB takes the Bucs to the cleaners.
I hope the next time Brown puts on a helmet he gets hit like Burficet or however you spell that dudes name hit him.
Uh huh. Let’s reward an entitled narcissist with a long history of ridiculous behavior and his ambulance chasing attorney because you wanna ‘take it to the man’. Brilliant.
Brown has been a spoiled brat who feels entitled because of his elite talent as a football player since he was probably 17 or 18 years old. Nobody would put up with his pathetic behaviors if he was not one of the best players available. ITS TIME TO LET THIS HIM GO HE HAS MISTREATED SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME INTO HIS LIFE. let’s just watch him end up bankrupt in 2-4 years and nobody will care because he will no longer be an elite player….The NFL needs to stop paying some of these entitled clowns millions of dollars … Many of these players are able to continue to cover up very bad behaviors with settlement’s to there victims … I tired of watching this guy now he plays the mental health card …
Let Brown crash and burn there is always another star player in the next draft ….
AB definitely has some issues and needs help, he also loves drama but I’m on his side on this one. Looks like Bruce Arians has done him really dirty here.
AB just needs to stay out of trouble off the field and he will have most of the league calling trying to get him. It is a big ask for him but hoes you I hope he does and I hope it comes back to bite Arians in the arse
#FreeAB
AB to the Ravens.
AB and his cousin Hollywood link up helping former MVP Lamar Jackson out.
He can just take over Sammy Watkins money
Forcing someone to play after having nagging injuries is disgusting. And to then fire him for not playing while injured!? I know AB is a hot head but this wasn’t handled right.
Playing through injuries has been a part of sports culture forever and teams don’t have to force players do it. Teammates expect it of each other and there is the realization that someone is always competing for your spot on the depth chart. We could list thousands of players who have played through nagging injuries.
The dude literally did jumping jacks on his way out of the stadium. I wouldn’t be surprised if he smashed his own foot after that (after talking to his agent and/or attorney).
He said/she said/they did/she did. If what AB said is true, there will be some video evidence of Bruce Arians Making a motion on his throat indicating that he was cut for not entering the game. Either way his antics were unacceptable for a professional. He has poisoned every team he’s been on and that is a fact that cannot be denied. Yes that means something. Just like a person on parole has to follow stricter rules, so too do these players who are getting fourth, fifth, sixth chances to play a game for money and fame. When you wear a team’s jersey, you are representing that company, that brand, that city, those fans, and your teammates. Show some respect. Act like an adult. If what he claims is true, the truth will come out. But he should have just sat on the bench and explained everything via his agent or attorney after the game. But AB can’t think rationally. It might be part mental health issues, but it definitely displays his “me first, I only care about AB” attitude. We all knew down here that as soon as he was signed, this ending was inevitable. He lasted longer than I thought, but it was only a matter of time. And he will destroy the next team that’s dumb enough to take him on board as well.
Why sit on the bench if you’ve been cut mid game. Seems pretty disrespectful to AB, especially to then expect him to just sit there and watch. As for the I only care about me attitude, sounds like Bruce didn’t care at all about AB or the playing group cutting such a key figure during a game and the gesture aswell.
As for the ending being inevitable, from the start Bruce had it out against AB. I thought for someone who had caused so much drama with the raiders he would’ve been gone quicker but obviously AB can follow rules and isn’t as thick as people believe.
I’m just hoping the truth comes out, AB gets another good opportunity to play and Arians has some consequences for his actions.
You were talking like there’s 100% truth and what AB is claiming. There’s no evidence that this is true as of yet. Yeah you’re making excuses for a guy for whom there is proof that he videotaped in the clubhouse and posted it on social media and destroyed multiple other relationships with other teams. Not to mention the fact that he slapped a woman in the face with his penis amongst other sexual assaults. You must be a millennial. Why take this guy’s word for it? What has he ever done to make you think that he is trustworthy?
Man I loooooove some drama, and this just does it. and you know what, it’s always interesting when you realize there’s a twist villian in all of it. aha! AB’s wildness has helped reveal a very valid criticism of sports as a whole.
The same ankle he ran off the field with will now require surgery?? Interesting angle….
USFL is an easy answer.Brown and the reporters that will follow him.AB will 100% play football again.Any press is good for the USFL,as long as their talking about the product in its infancy.Tampa Bay is gonna get smoked if they aren’t careful.Apologies,his uniform,& his 1 million for his incentives.Play nice till the seasons end.Get the dude some help,he’s cost himself a lot of money.Money is the reality that confirms greatness within his peers.Self awareness takes time when your dealing with a narcissist.I’m sorry to say this, but I have a bad feeling something bad is going to happen 1 day with this dude.
Anyone believing the crap spewing out of AB’s mouth is as insane as he is. “They cut me and then they sent me out to play??” Hello…memo from the NFL…Brown has NOT BEEN CUT (yet). Teams also DO NOT cut players in the middle of games and then send them out to play in said game. It doesn’t happen. Also, Tampa just lost Chris Godwin and is interested in winning again, so they would do what would give them the greatest chance to win…not intentionally destroy AB’s career and life. Another thing that is ridiculous is that people with ankles as jacked up as AB says his is don’t dance around like idiots after ripping off their clothes and march off into oblivion to meet up with his brain.
This guy is NUTS. N-U-T-S. CTE is a serious and terrible reality of playing in the NFL, and he is the most perfect example of what a living, breathing example of CTE, combined with a host of other mental issues, looks and acts like. Don’t be stupid and buy into his stories. His past and present tell you everything you need to know about who and what AB is all about. A complete nutjob in need to some serious help.
I don’t feel sorry for Tampa Bay because they should have known full well what they were getting into when they signed him in the first place. Stupid, stupid move from the get go. Did they really think that they could “fix” him? You can’t fix crazy. I do feel sorry for those who have to live with and deal with him on a daily basis, and for AB himself. Serious mental and brain injuries can’t make for a happy and fulfilling life…nor can acting like a complete fool and being a public spectacle/laughingstock, if he even realizes that that’s exactly what he is, and has been for the better part of 3 or 4 years now.
The team and the player both get what they deserve. As a team you can’t take on all that baggage and then expect it to end well. I don’t blame AB. Yes, he’s very much responsible for his actions, but if teams keep taking a chance on this guy then they are affirming his behavior and that’s on them. Tom Brady recruited him. Arians and the front office caved. Now they all have to accept the consequences.
Tampa should have released him after the fake covid card incident.
Injured or hurt is the question. There’s a difference in sports. This guy has been and is a nut job. He will never play in the NFL again. Regardless
You would think AB wanted to get into the game since he was close to performance bonus numbers. That’s the only thing keeping an open mind on the situation.
If they don’t have all the scripts written for the rebirth of the original Law and Order series, all the twists and turns of this case would be must see tv.
Maybe even bring in Vincent D’Onofrio (sp?) to see if he can get inside AB’s head and make any sense of what’s going on in there.
I don’t know what happened here but unfortunately for AB his version of accounts will always be doubted without undoubtable truth. He’s also reaching the point it’s not worth the nonsense if he’s not a top 3 wideout anymore