The Buccaneers released Antonio Brown on Thursday, ending a dramatic series of events on and off the field — and rendering his future even more uncertain.
On Wednesday, Brown posted a lengthy defense of his blowup in Sunday’s win over the Jets, alleging that Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians made him play on an injured ankle — posting screenshots of alleged text messages between them — and that the team falsely portrayed his actions as a “mental health issue.”
Brown’s tenure in Tampa toggled between the ultimate high — and some troubling lows.
- Before signing with the Bucs in 2020, Brown has suspended eight games for multiple violations of the NFL’s conduct policy.
- He caught six touchdowns to finish that campaign, including one during Tampa Bay’s 31-9 win in Super Bowl LV.
- In early December, Brown has suspended three games for providing a false COVID vaccination card to the league.
Adding to the murky debate over Brown’s character, Tom Brady expressed compassion for his now-former teammate, suggesting the embattled receiver needs help.
In May, the 33-year-old signed a one-year contract worth up to $6.3 million ($3.1M guaranteed) to return to the Buccaneers. Last week, Tampa denied Brown’s request to secure the remaining $2 million in incentives, per Adam Schefter.
Brown said he would undergo surgery to repair his ankle and plans to play in the league next season — but given his erratic record, teams might think twice before taking a chance on him.
