Why did Antonio Brown leave Buccaneers-Jets game? Explaining WR’s beef with Bruce Arians, follow-up comments

Vontae Davis locked up the fictional award for “Most bizarre exit from an NFL game” when he retired in the middle of a 2018 contest between the Bills and Chargers. He simply pulled himself out of the game, saying in a statement he came to the realization he “shouldn’t be out there anymore.”

Well, Antonio Brown somehow managed to top him this season. In the third quarter of the Buccaneers’ Week 17 game against the Jets, the seven-time Pro Bowler removed his jersey and pads, jogged to the locker room and never returned to the field. Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians told reporters after the Jan. 2 game that Brown would no longer be a member of the team, and the Bucs made Brown’s release official a few days after the game.

Needless to say, there was a lot to digest with the incident — and the follow-up comments from Brown and the Buccaneers organization only complicated the situation. SN looks back at Brown’s outburst and the aftermath.

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Antonio Brown leaves Buccaneers-Jets game

Brown’s meltdown came late in the third quarter with the Bucs facing a 24-10 deficit. The 33-year-old was visibly frustrated and got into a heated discussion with Mike Evans. Despite his best efforts, Evans couldn’t bring down the temperature on the sideline.

In a shocking move, Brown removed his jersey and pads, and then ripped off his undershirt and gloves. He tossed his undershirt and gloves into the crowd before jogging across the field toward Tampa Bay’s locker room. He threw up a peace sign to the fans in attendance at MetLife Stadium and disappeared into the tunnel.

At the time of Brown’s exit, the Buccaneers’ offensive unit was driving down the field. It scored a touchdown on that possession, and Tampa Bay ultimately won 28-24. Brown finished with three catches on five targets for 26 yards.

Why did Antonio Brown leave the game?

This is where things get a little bit murky.

Brown claims he was “cut” by the Buccaneers because he refused to play with an ankle injury. In a statement released through his attorney, Brown said Arians ordered him to take the field, and when he told Arians he wasn’t able to play with the injury, Arians replied, “You’re done!”

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“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,” Brown said. “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.”

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The Bucs acknowledged Brown did receive treatment on his ankle and was listed on the injury report during the week, but they asserted he was cleared to play. They also said Brown never indicated to the medical staff he could not play.

“At no point in time during that game did [Brown] ever ask the trainer or doctor about his ankle. He never went through — that’s the normal protocol,” Arians said. “You go through protocols during games. I was never notified of it.”

There is another element in play here, though. Brown was reportedly close to earning three bonuses (for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns) that would have paid out $333,333 each. During an appearance on the “I Am Athlete” podcast, former Tampa Bay running back LeSean McCoy said Brown was “angry” about his lack of targets. McCoy explained that Arians and Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich openly discussed player incentives in 2020, leading Brown to believe they would help him hit his 2021 season goals.

McCoy’s full breakdown from the “I Am Athlete Podcast” podcast:

Arians noted Brown was “very upset” at halftime about which receivers were being targeted, but he said the players “took care of that.” Arians also admitted he told Brown to “get the f— out of here” after Brown refused to re-enter the game.

How did the Buccaneers react?

Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians

“[Brown] is no longer a Buc,” Arians told reporters after the game. “That’s the end of the story. Let’s talk about the guys who went out there and won the game.”

Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady

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

Buccaneers official team statement

“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have terminated the contract of Antonio Brown, effective immediately,” the Bucs said in a statement released Jan. 6. “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. Maintaining the health and wellness of our players is of the utmost importance to our organization.”

How did Antonio Brown react?

Social media posts

On Jan. 6, Brown tweeted what appeared to be a conversation between him and Arians showing they had discussed Brown’s ankle injury before the game.

“I’m all-in coach,” Brown said in the alleged text conversation. “Really [can’t] get to full speed. I wanna win, wanna be there. [If] I wake up tomorrow [and] feel better, I’ll be ready.”

“Come see me [in] the morning,” Arians replied, according to the screenshot. “We’ll talk it out. Definitely want you with us in case you’re ready.”

Then Brown took aim at Brady and his longtime trainer, Alex Guerrero, sharing an alleged conversation he had with Guerrero regarding a financial issue. Brown asked Guerrero for half of the $100,000 that he paid for services, according to the screenshot, and Guerrero asked where he should send the money.

“[Brady’s] guy [Guerrero] charging me [$100,000 and] never doing the work on me!” Brown said in the Instagram caption. “[How do you] even work [with] people like this!”

In another post, Brown explained he was ultimately more upset with how the team handled his injury than any actions by his teammates.

“Don’t get it twisted. My brothers have been good to me,” Brown tweeted. “From Tom to practice squad, we were a top-level unit. They have been good to me and knew nothing about my talks with coach last week. The team mishandled this situation. They let me down and, more importantly, my teammates.”

‘Full Send’ podcast

During a Jan. 7 interview on the “Full Send” podcast, Brown reiterated he was dealing with an ankle injury, saying a player has a right to tell his coach when he can’t play. He also questioned the nature of his friendship with Brady and wondered why he wasn’t being targeted like a true No. 1 receiver.

You can check out the full breakdown of Brown’s comments here.

‘I Am Athlete’ podcast

Brown made his own appearance on the “I Am Athlete” podcast, telling former NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall that there is “nothing wrong” with his mental health. Brown had previously dismissed concerns about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease found in those who have experienced repetitive brain trauma.

“Someone told me to get the f— out of here. I’m not passive-aggressive. . . . It’s bigger than me because a lot of guys [are] going through this,” Brown said. “How do you protect your mental health as a football player in regards to getting what you want? How do you do that?”

What will Antonio Brown do next?

Brown said he plans to undergo surgery on his ankle and play again next season, though it is unclear if any teams have expressed interest in signing him.

“Once my surgery is complete, I’ll be back to 100 percent and looking forward to next season,” Brown said in the statement released through his attorney. “Business gonna be boomin’!”

In 15 games with the Buccaneers, Brown totaled 87 receptions for 1,028 yards and eight touchdowns. He is No. 21 on the all-time receptions list (928) and No. 24 on the all-time receiving yards list (12,291) and all-time receiving touchdowns list (83).

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