Antonio Brown has been a major topic of NFL controversy, from holding a fake COVID vaccination card that resulted in a three game suspension, to sexual assault allegations from a former coach during his time playing for the New England Patriots. However, his most recent actions have ended his time as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, and potentially as a future NFL player.

During halftime of a Buccaneers game against the New York Jets, Brown was seen having an argument with head coach Bruce Arians, before he began taking off his gear and running across the field and out of the stadium in the middle of a 3rd quarter play. Following the incident, his attorney released a statement, outlining how Brown had been pressured into playing during the game in spite of a severe ankle injury.

“I am reflecting on my reaction, but there was a trigger. The trigger was someone telling me that I’m not allowed to feel pain,” he stated.

Furthermore, Brown revealed that the argument with his coach was Arians angrily asking why the wide receiver wasn’t able to play, to which he was told he was done with the team if he didn’t get on the field. Arians then reported in a post game interview that he didn’t know about Brown’s medical situation. This was particularly upsetting to Brown, who claims that Arians was fully aware of the injury, one that encompassed several broken bones and a torn ligament.

As released in his statement, “Not only did he know I missed several games with the injury, he and I exchanged texts days before the game where he clearly acknowledged my injury.”

Following the Buccaneers’ victory over the Jets, it was officially confirmed that Antonio Brown was no longer part of the team. Though head coach Arians was uninterested in discussing the details of Brown’s release, quarterback Tom Brady, who had played with Brown for several years, asked for public empathy towards Brown and the difficult situation he found himself in.

“I think everybody should find, hopefully, to do what they can to help him in ways he really needs. We all love him, we all care about him deeply. We want to see him be at his best and unfortunately it won’t be with our team,” he stated in his post game interview.

For the near future, the Buccaneers have continued their season into the playoffs without Brown, and there have been no public discussions regarding his replacement. As for Brown himself, he is currently a free agent, ready to be picked up by another team.

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