As the saga continues to unfold after the Bucs released Antonio Brown on Thursday, more information is starting to develop. And it’s not just one issue. There are numerous events in all different areas.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who tweeted that he spoke with Bucs general manager Jason Licht, he proclaims that Brown requested last week to have his remaining $2 million incentives guaranteed by the end of the season. However, the Bucs declined.
Last week, Antonio Brown and his agent requested that the remaining $2 million in incentives in his contract for this season be guaranteed, per Bucs’ GM Jason Licht. The team declined to guarantee those incentives.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2022
This may have been the beginning of Brown’s unruly feeling about the organization.
But wait, there’s more.
Brown put out a statement through his lawyer, Sean Burstyn, about a number of accusations that Tampa Bay forced him to play injured. Brown also claims that he saw an independent doctor that proved with an MRI that he had significant damage, while the Bucs ordered him to see an additional doctor for another opinion.
You can read that here:
A lengthy statement from Antonio Brown, announcing he’s having ankle surgery and giving his side of Sunday: pic.twitter.com/pPl0X5HQsx
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 6, 2022
On the contrary, Licht told Schefter that the Bucs went out of their way to help get Brown appointments in New York since he was still there. As it turns out, Brown wasn’t answering their calls.
Buccaneers made what they call “reasonable accommodations” to bring this matter to a close early this week if in fact Antonio Brown had an injury from the game and the wide receiver declined to cooperate, per Jason Licht.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2022
The Bucs put out a public statement following their move to release the troubled receiver, saying that they asked Brown for said medical records, which he could not provide.
— xz – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 6, 2022
And if that wasn’t enough, Licht told Schefter that Brown was unhappy with the number of targets he was receiving in the game, which Bruce Arians also mentioned on Thursday during a press conference.
For the record, Brown had five targets by halftime of last week’s game. That was one off from Rob Gronkowski’s team-lead of six and one more than Mike Evans had. This also comes off of a game just two weeks ago in which Brown got 15 targets, made 10 receptions and recorded 101 yards at Carolina.
One other note to this saga, per Bucs’ sources: At halftime of Sunday’s game against the Jets, Antonio Brown was agitated about not getting the targets he was expecting during the game and had to be calmed down.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2022
Arians mentioned as such when he clarified the situation on Thursday.
#Bucs HC Bruce Arians Pt. 4: "was going on. ‘I ain’t playing.’ ‘What’s going on?’ ‘I ain’t getting the ball.’ That’s when I said ‘’You’re done, get the F out of here.’ And that’s the end of it. We’re working on Carolina, that’s the end of the story. Hopefully it ends today."
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 6, 2022
It seems like there’s a new piece of information at each moment in this incident. So this likely won’t be the last thing to come about.
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About the Author: Matt Matera
Hmm who to believe here? Lol. A reputable coach for decades that never has had an issue with a player or have anyone say he’s crazy or a liar or are we to believe a jackass that has been cut by what 5 organizations now? Hard to keep track now with this crazy bastard. He bounces all over and keeps turning up like bad Penny anyways saying same shit everyone is out to get poor AB. Meanwhile multiple accounts that the douche doesn’t even pay his debts. His song is getting old now. Bucs got what they deserved in a… Read more »
Technically 3. Pats, Raiders and Bucs. He became a FA with the Steelers and was signed by Oakland for huge money. Didn’t make it out of training camp.
He missed 9 games and wanted his money guaranteed. He would have easily hit $1mil of it with the game and a half he had left. When you have a guy crying about his targets it’s already a problem. Good riddance
Maybe he forgot that they added an extra game this season lol I still can’t believe this actually happened all seems like a bad soap opera
and there it is. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes! AB is a chronic malcontent. Have a nice life. U blew ur last chance to make major bank. Now u should familiarize yourself with the phrase, thank u can I take ur order and then u will see how the real world lives!
“Would you like fries with that,” is another phrase he should become familiar with.
By extrapolation of all the available data, I think it’s clear now that the fault lies with AB. His actions and remarks indicate his attention was focused firmly on his incentives, due to his incentive laden contract. His compaint to TB12, about favoring Gronk, motivated by the possibility of missing out on his target-based, playing bonuses, nothing else. There was no evidence of any deterioration in the condition of his ankle during the game and his extraordinary antics in doing ‘jumping jacks’, prancing around and playing to the crowd, as he went to the locker room, absolutely confirmed that he… Read more »
A few days ago people were saying case closed and here you are saying the same thing. It’s naive. Licht’s claims of having independent evaluation of Browns status clearly credible but you’re assuming it’s the only expert medical opinion available. Brown could very well distrusted anything the team was recommending and have his own experts. It fact it’s likely that’s the case. The Bucs including Arians have already made contradictory statements on Brown the have changed as the scrutiny has increased. Like four days ago when the case was not closed while people were saying it was closed in continues… Read more »
Some people are brought up to not be so quick to judge, well that ain’t me and obviously that was not Jason Licht. He knew exactly who AB was and that’s why he incentivized his contract to begin with. Maybe it’s just old school but Scott called him a Scorpion I call him a Leopard!
There’s already been misinformation coming out of the Bucs about know of Brown’s injury status and exactly whether he quit or was released. Meanwhile Brown is leveling a barrage of statements that have media’s heads spinning as they direct questions at the Bucs for clarification. I can simplify this for you. No Antonio Brown certainly has no credibility with anyone at this stage nor does his lawyer. HOWEVER the injury issue is real and that is definitely something players relate and sympathize with. Tom Brady is battle hardened and surely no matter what is said will he be deterred from… Read more »
The Bucs never changed about the incident. Because of AB’s lies, they now have merely added the back story or can;t you tell the difference.
Say what you will but Arians is on tape saying two different things.
I can see see the narrative changing across sports media almost by the day. At first an almost unanimous focus on Brown’s mental state. As the days click off and Brown appears to have a strategic aim to his responses primarily centered around his injury status and how the Bucs were dealing with it the narrative has turned. Former players and especially former black players that are now doing sports commentary are saying hold up here. Sure we can’t believe what Antonio Browns says but what do the medical professionals say about the ankle injury. What exactly was Arians knowledge… Read more »
Clearly you’re somehow still on ABs side which makes zero sense. The Bucs have already come out and said they were willing to send AB to a doctor in NY which was close to where he lives to get a second opinion and he turned it down. The fact that anyone can even remotely believe that fruit cake is mind boggling to me. This will have zero effect on the club. If anything they should be happy to get rid of the “me first” clown that was a cancer to the locker room. Plus if you dont think Brady will… Read more »
See now the guy is your enemy. Before when he was catching passes even after the vaccination fiasco you stuck by him without reservation. I’m clearly not on Antonio Brown’s side. I’m simply talking about the realities in messaging and how it will not go away any time soon. You can frame him anyway you like and you’re mostly correct. What you are underestimating is how persistent he is and the damage and distraction he can bring to a team. Just look at the latest Pewter headline. The focus should be on the team and there he is creating havoc… Read more »
As Arian’s said,it won’t be a distraction because the team knows exactly what happened. AB quit on his team in the middle of a close game. He was grousing about his limited number of catches during halftime. Go back to your Giants forum.
He’s a Saints Troll actually!
I read and heard commentary by various media writers/talking heads this week, all favoring Brown’s version of events and tut-tutting about how this is a bad look for the Bucs, literally forcing an injured player to go out there on the field when he was in massive pain. Incredible, the credulity of these media jerks. Opining, of course, based all upon the word solely of a proven flake who’s now failed at numerous quality teams, and choosing to disbelieve the “player’s coach” Bruce Arians, who has now been backed up by others with credibility as well as provable facts. It… Read more »
Agree. Never give credibility to a narcissistic mentally ill liar playing victimhood nor trust media jerks that buy into such nonsense who also lack credibility on such issues.
I follow AB on instagram. He’s walking around, visiting people, doing social things. He isn’t in excruciating pain.
If the Bucs pay him a cent or the NFL takes his side I am done watching the NFL too. I cant take the “poor me” attitude anymore. He’s a cry baby liar and a dumb one at that. You made your bed now move on. His crooked agent is playing the poor me card too. He didn’t look too hurt running off the field like a complete jack ass!!!! He was bitching in the locker room about targets at halftime. Shocker!!! The Bucs are partly at fault for brining in this POS to begin with. I am completely over… Read more »
We’ll be seeing you in the USFL in April AB.
I’m just happy that the clown car is moving on to another station.
Major clown car!!!!