Tampa Bay Bucs Formally Release Antonio Brown After He Walked Out On Game

TAMPA, FL — It's over for Antonio Brown, at least as far as the Tampa Bay Bucs are concerned.

On Thursday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially terminated wide receiver Antonio Brown's contract, effective immediately.

Brown was booted off the team after he abruptly left the field at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, during Sunday's game against the New York Jets.

Without a word to the coaching staff, he changed out of his uniform and walked out of the stadium, flashing a peace sign at spectators.

Brown later claimed he was unable to continue playing because a recent MRI showed he had broken bone fragments, a torn ligament and cartilage loss in his ankle. He has been on the injury report most of the season.

The Bucs went on to win 28-24.

Bucs head coach Bruce Arians said his biggest frustration was Brown's refusal to explain his behavior at the game.

"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," said the Bucs in a statement released Thursday. "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."

Arians said Brown never indicated he was having a problem with his ankle during the game.

“At no point in time during that game did he ever ask the trainer or a doctor about his ankle,” Arians said. “That’s the normal protocol.”

Arians admitted he had harsh words with Brown after delivering the news that he'd been kicked off the team.

"I said, 'You're done. Get the 'F' out of here,'" Arians said.

See related stories:

• Antonio Brown Gone From Bucs Over Injury Dispute: Report
• 2 Bucs Players Suspended By NFL For Violating COVID-19 Protocols
• Antonio Brown Meltdown: Reaction To Ex-Steelers Star's Outburst
• Antonio Brown 'No Longer A Buc' After Leaving Jets Game

The team's decision to release Brown follows the National Football League's sanctioning of Brown and fellow player safety Mike Edwards for violating NFL COVID-19 protocols. The two players were suspended for three games after being accused of falsifying their COVID-19 vaccination records.

Both accepted the discipline and waived their right of appeal.

Prior to the start of the season, Arians said all Bucs players were vaccinated. He said he had no clue that Brown paid to obtain a fake vaccination card.

"We received completed vaccination cards from all Tampa Bay Buccaneers players and submitted the required information to the NFL through the established process in accordance with the league policy," said the Bucs organization in a news release. "All vaccination cards were reviewed by Buccaneers personnel and no irregularities were observed."

Before his suspension by the NFL, Brown had been on the Bucs injury list for the past eight games due to the ankle injury.

There were plenty of words of encouragement on Brown's Instagram page.

"I love you, I’m praying for u and with u. This too shall pass," said former NFL player Deion Sanders, now head football coach at Jackson State University.

"Keep your head up, AB. A lot of people care about you," said social media entrepreneur Joey Ruben.

Others bashed Brown for taking shots at Bucs quarterback Tom Brady on Instagram Thursday morning after Brady referred Brown to his personal body coach. Brown said he spent $100,000 and got no results.

Brown and Brady are longtime friends who played together on the New England Patriots.

Earlier Thursday, Brady said he would not comment on Brown's dismissal but had a change of heart, holding a news conference Thursday afternoon.

“I think there's a lot of personal, obviously, feelings. I don't think this is really the week to discuss it, though,” Brady said. “You know, I'm just going to do the best I can do quarterbacking the team, try to put together a great week, finish strong. You just always deal with different things over the course of the season. That's what we're doing this week."

Arians also chimed in after Brown and his attorneys released statements Wednesday accusing the Bucs of ignoring the condition of his ankle and even using treatments that worsened the injury.

Nevertheless, following his dismissal, Brown posted a photo of himself smiling at his Davis Islands home, giving the impression that he didn't have a care in the world.

"Football is what we do, not who we are! Love," Brown said.