Free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown, who was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year after leaving in the middle of a Jan. 2 game against the New York Jets, has received no interest in free agency after his meltdown. Brown has refused to undergo ankle surgery without a commitment from a team and said he doesn't have plans to play in 2022. "Obviously, we live the game, but you can't play forever," Brown said. "I think I'm a great player that's done everything in the game." If Brown's career is indeed over, he'll finish with 928 catches for 12,291 yards and 83 touchdowns in 12 seasons. The 33-year-old pass-catcher was a seven-time Pro Bowler with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was named as a first-team All-Pro four straight years from 2014-17.
Free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown (ankle) said he hasn't had ankle surgery yet and doesn't plan to unless a team commits to signing him. Interesting strategy from a 33-year-old receiver that was last seen abandoning the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by walking off the playing field last season. Brown was subsequently cut by Tampa, and given the new information on his status, it doesn't seem likely that he'll be playing in the NFL in 2022. The seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro has had a handful of off-the-field issues since leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018, but he helped the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl two seasons ago. In seven games in Tampa in 2021, he had 42 catches for 545 yards and four touchdowns on 62 targets.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown (ankle) will have surgery in a few weeks, although the date could change. The veteran, who the Buccaneers released during the week after an incident with head coach Bruce Arians, reported he has "broken bone fragments, cartilage loss, and a ligament torn from the bone" in his ankle. He's dealt with the issue for most of the year, although he still had flashes of efficiency by racking up at least seven catches in four of his seven appearances this year. Nonetheless, it's obvious Brown is still one of the most talented wideouts in the league. However, given the potential severity of his ankle ailment and turbulent personality, it's possible most teams aren't willing to take a chance on him moving ahead. Still, those in dynasty formats should keep him on the roster for now.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are officially releasing wide receiver Antonio Brown on Thursday, according to a league sources. Last week, Brown and his agent requested that the remaining $2 million in incentives in his contract for this season be guaranteed, according to general manager Jason Licht. However, the team declined to guarantee those incentives. Brown walked off the field in the Week 17 win over the New York Jets, but he claims he was too hurt to play after head coach Bruce Arians demanded that he go back into the game. The 33-year-old said he plans to undergo surgery on his injured ankle, so it's highly unlikely that any team will pick him up. Brown will finish the season with 42 catches on 62 targets for 545 yards and four touchdowns in seven games. The seven-time Pro Bowler may have played his last game in the NFL after his latest meltdown.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown (ankle) said in a statement that an MRI last week "shows broken bone fragments" and a "ligament torn from the bone." He plans to have surgery on his ankle and claims that head coach Bruce Arians essentially cut him in Week 17 against the New York Jets when he told the coach that he was too injured to go back into the game. Brown says he relented to pressure from his coach to play injured after going for a season-high 10 catches on 15 targets for 101 yards the week prior. It's essentially Brown's word against the Bucs organization at this point, which is unlikely to end anytime soon. The wideout is technically still a member of the team right now, but only because the front office is working with the NFL on how to handle the matter. The 33-year-old's time with Tampa is over, but it remains to be seen if another team will give him a chance before next season.
Antonio Brown's Camp Claims He Was Too Injured To Play
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown's (ankle) friends were worried about the pain he was experiencing and encouraged him to see a top surgeon outside of the Buccaneers organization. Brown is known for having a high pain threshold, but the belief is that he probably shouldn't have been active in the Week 17 win over the New York Jets to begin with. An official statement from Brown's camp is expected to be issued soon. Brown was told by head coach Bruce Arians to leave the field if he didn't want to go into the game on Sunday, which he wound up doing in dramatic fashion. Tampa is saying Brown won't play for them again, but they have yet to officially waive him and are discussing their next steps with the NFL. AB is still unlikely to play for the Bucs again, and this could be a drawn-out saga that ends in a grievance from Brown.
Buccaneers Don't Officially Release Antonio Brown Monday
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not officially release wide receiver Antonio Brown on Monday, according to a source. There are ongoing discussions between the Buccaneers and the NFL about how to move ahead with the situation after Brown stormed off the field in the middle of the Week 17 win over the New York Jets. Brown claims that he was too injured to enter the game when he was asked to go onto the field, but the Bucs are saying they had no knowledge that he was injured, and head coach told Brown to leave the sidelines if he refused to play. In any event, Brown won't be playing for Tampa again, and he may finish out the year on the suspended list so that no other team can claim him for the playoffs. It was a bizarre ending to Brown's season, and we may not see him play in the NFL again.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians announced after the Week 17 game against the New York Jets that wide receiver Antonio Brown's career with the team is over after he walked off in the middle of the win over the Jets on Sunday. Brown went off the rails and took his jersey and shirt off to throw it into the stands before leaving the field in the middle of the game with the Bucs in comeback mode against New York. Before departing for what will most likely be his final game in the NFL, Brown caught three of five targets for 26 yards. Tight end Rob Gronkowski led the team with seven catches and 115 yards, while Cyril Grayson stepped up with six catches, 81 yards and a score. Now that Brown is out of the picture and with Chris Godwin (knee) done for the year, Grayson will be a priority waiver-wire pickup for fantasy managers that have something on the line in Week 18.
Antonio Brown Implodes Sunday, Walks Off The Field
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown left the field on Sunday against the New York Jets in the second half after taking off his jersey and shirt to throw it into the stands. Teammate Mike Evans attempted to calm Brown down before the outburst, but to no avail. Before his meltdown, AB had three catches for 26 yards on five targets, but this might be the last time we see him in a Buccaneers uniform. It's unclear exactly what the issue was, and he didn't appear to get injured. Stay tuned for more details on the situation and how the Bucs brass might handle Brown for the rest of the season. Chris Godwin (knee) is out for the year, so Cyril Grayson, Tyler Johnson and Scotty Miller could have much bigger roles alongside Mike Evans if we don't see Brown again this year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown (ankle) is expected to play in Sunday's game against the New York Jets. He was listed as questionable for Sunday's contest with an ankle injury but is all systems go for Week 17. The 33-year-old tweaked his ankle during practice this week. He practiced on Saturday and, barring a setback during pregame warmups will play in Week 17. Brown hauled in 10 catches and over 100 yards in his return last week and is a must-start option against a porous Jets defense that ranks 32nd against the pass in 2021.
