UPDATE – Buccaneers release contentious wide receiver Antonio Brown

by Seth Udinski

Seth Udinski, FISM News

 

In the latest update in the publicized battle between NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, news broke Thursday that the team has officially released the controversial receiver.

Brown was seen storming off the field in the middle of Sunday’s contest between the Bucs and the Jets. Throughout this week, both Brown and head coach Bruce Arians gave their side of the story. Brown claims the Buccaneers were conspiring to force him to play through a serious ankle injury, prompting his outburst on Sunday.

Brown’s reputation in the league certainly clouds the validity of his claims, especially among sportswriters that have followed him for years.

The Buccaneers claimed,

While Antonio did receive treatment on his ankle and was listed on the injury report the week leading up to last Sunday’s game, he was cleared to play by our medical team prior to the start of the game and at no point during the game did he indicate to our medical personnel that he could not play. We have attempted, multiple times throughout this week, to schedule an evaluation by an outside orthopedic specialist, yet Antonio has not complied.

Head coach Bruce Arians affirmed this claim, saying,

At no point during that game did he ever ask the trainer or doctor about his ankle — that’s the normal protocol. We go through protocols during games. I was never notified of it. Obviously that was a disturbing thing. We were looking for him to go back into the game.

Arians further argued that Brown’s true reason for his outburst was that he was not getting the ball as much as he wanted. When Arians confronted him, Brown said, “I ain’t playing.” Arians asked why, and Brown said, “I ain’t getting the ball.” The head coach then informed Brown he was finished and asked him to leave.

It will be fascinating to see how this battle effects the Bucs and Brown, who appears to be in the twilight of his career. Tampa Bay has clinched their division and looks to defend their Super Bowl title as the playoffs approach, but they also now have an off-the-field distraction looming over their playoff chase.

DONATE NOW