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Antonio Brown Releases Statement After Buccaneers Game Exit

Marija January 6th
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 02: Antonio Brown #81 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on against the New York Jets during the game at MetLife Stadium on January 02, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Antonio Brown has released a statement following his exit from the Buccaneers-Jets game last Sunday.

It was in the middle of the third quarter that Brown removed his jersey and left the game. He says he was cut and that he did not quit. Brown also says that he was forced to play on an ankle injury.

  • In Brown’s statement released through his attorney he says “I didn’t quit. I was cut. I didn’t walk away from my brothers. I was thrown out. Being fired on the sideline for having a painful injury was bad enough. Then came their ‘spin.’ Coach denied on national television that he knew about my ankle. That’s 100% inaccurate. 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. He obviously knew I was on the injury list. And the GM acknowledged after the game in text messages to my camp that I did tell coach about my ankle pain on Sunday.

    I know we were losing to the Jets and that was frustrating for all of us. But I could not make football plays on that ankle. Yes, I walked off the field. But there’s a major difference between launching from the line and taking hits, compared to jogging off the field with a rush of emotions going through your mind. 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. I acknowledge my past. But my past does not make me a second class citizen. My past does not forfeit my right to be heard when I am in pain.”

  • Check out the full statement here:

  • Antonio Brown has also released some text messages that, if proven to be authentic, could make Bucs head coach Bruce Arians look pretty guilty after he denied knowing about AB’s injury.

  • In another tweet, he said his teammates were in the dark as far as the conversation between he and Arians.

  • After Sunday’s game and again on Wednesday, Arians said that Brown is “no longer a Buc”, but the team did not formally release him until today.

    SOURCE: ESPN