As if the Antonio Brown saga could not take any more bizarre twists and turns, the star wide receiver was released by the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, the team announced, just two days before opening the season on Monday night against the Denver Broncos.
The 30-year-old All-Pro had demanded his release from the team in an Instagram post on Saturday morning, which included a picture of a message that said, “You are gonna piss a lot of people off when you start doing what’s best for you.”
In the caption, Brown wrote, “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 #NOMore.”
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Brown was fined $215,073.53 on Friday night for conduct detrimental to the team on Sept. 4, and the Raiders voided the $29.125 million worth of guaranteed money in his deal, which Oakland reworked upon trading for him.
The Raiders sent Brown a letter that he would no longer be entitled to termination pay if they release him, Schefter added.
Per Mike Tannenbaum of ESPN, Brown's guaranteed money will now be determined by an arbitrator.
The final straw began on Sept. 4, when Brown got into an altercation with GM Mike Mayock, which led to reports that the team was planning to suspend Brown for its Week 1 game.
On Friday, the Raiders announced Brown would indeed play in the game and would not be suspended.
Later on Friday night, Brown posted a video on Youtube sharing a recorded call between himself and Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.
In the video, Gruden asks Brown “what the hell is going on, man?”
“Just a villain all over the news, man,” Brown said.
Gruden empathized with Brown in the phone call, calling him “misunderstood” and asked him if he wants to be a Raider or not?
Brown replied: “Man, I’ve been trying to be a Raider since day one. I’ve been f---ing working my ass off harder than anyone. I don’t know why it’s a question of me being a Raider. It’s like do you guys want me to be a Raider?”
Gruden pleads with Brown to “just play football,” but Brown responds he’s “more than just a football player.”
“I’m a real person,” he said. “It ain’t about the football, I know I can do that. I show you guys that on the daily. This is my life. Ain’t no more games.”
Per Chris Mortensen of ESPN, Gruden said that the video was “awesome.”
Brown never even stepped on the field for as much a preseason game for the Raiders.
He missed most of training camp after sustaining frostbite on his feet after using a cryogenic chamber without the proper footwear. He also battled the NFL and did not report to a practice over an issue with his helmet during the preseason.