Buccaneers Release Statement On Antonio Brown
January 6th, 2022
Life without Antonio Brown.
Furniture-tossing, bicycle-winging, tantrum-throwing quitter Antonio Brown took to social media this morning to air his grievances. The Buccaneers have responded in kind. Joe will just leave this here for all to enjoy and respond to.
“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have terminated the contract of Antonio Brown, effective immediately. 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.”
January 6th, 2022 at 12:30 pm
I know next to nothing about waiver wire and free agent statuses. Does this mean Antonio Brown is a free agent and free to sign with any team? I suspect that it does.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Like I just said a few minutes ago in another post, AB is acting out on social media in order to get an immediate release.
He did it in Oakland, and it worked.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:30 pm
This ride is far from over….
January 6th, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Now he’s going after Brady and Guerrero 🤦🏻♂️
January 6th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
AB has overplayed his hand as usual and is doing things without thinking. Which kind of sums up his life to this point. So brazen and thoughtless. The Instagram post exposing Alex Guerrero’s checking account information. The passive aggressive comment about Brady, a guy who’s been on his side this entire time. Just reckless, thoughtless, reactionary thinking and actions.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
Also, I do believe the Buccaneers when they say the health and wellness of their players is of utmost importance. The Bucs have seemingly been leaders in the NFL in this regard. I appreciate what Antonio Brown did for the Bucs but his antics in NY were unacceptable.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:33 pm
AB said he needs surger now , so the Bucs were smart let him spout off so now if he does sign and try and play it shows he is a LIAR !
January 6th, 2022 at 12:33 pm
According to AB, he’s in major pain. The release is just a set up by the Buc front office to protect them in any lawsuit. AB damages his own case if he signs with another team and passes the physical.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:34 pm
Now watch as his ankle miraculously heals!
January 6th, 2022 at 12:34 pm
Next!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 6th, 2022 at 12:35 pm
This follows the trend more than anything AB has said. This should honestly end any controversy
January 6th, 2022 at 12:35 pm
Passingthru,
Considering the severe injury to his ankle that ABs lawyers do eloquently laid out, seems like AB is gonna be getting a lot of MRIs soon.
If it’s bad, he won’t be able to play… bummer. If it’s not bad and he ends up playing?
Fair strategic move by the Bucs.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:37 pm
Thanks for 2020 AB. Sad to see it end like this, but we’re not surprised. It ends like this wherever you play.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:37 pm
I assume they were waiting to make sure they could terminate the guaranteed contract, no real other motivation to keep him on the team
January 6th, 2022 at 12:38 pm
They just released this dude. I am thinking he was looking to get released.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:39 pm
Let’s see how bad that ankle is that he can no longer play this year.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:41 pm
Pretty much it, Jmarkbuc.
The bottom-line is that AB’s contract has been terminated. He’s a vested veteran, not subject to a waiver claim. This means the usual protocol of having to pass a physical prior to being signed. The signing team could waive the physical at AB’s request, but that would be accepting yet another red flag from someone with a checkered past.
Once he passes a physical, his potential lawsuit against the Bucs is irreparably damaged.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:42 pm
Let’s hope players step up. Hope Tommy is working with these guys in practice.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:44 pm
To my knowledge, all the tweets by “NFL analysts” are wrong. AB is not subject to waivers. He’s a vested vet. His contract was terminated. Another team cannot accept that contract, and he does not hit the waiver wire. He’s an unrestricted free agent.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:44 pm
So he will be available to be signed if he clears waivers. How would he be able to play in the playoffs with an ankle that requires surgery?
January 6th, 2022 at 12:45 pm
I think brown was looking for a cop out. Something to get him out of the tampa bay bucs.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:47 pm
Bye Felicia
January 6th, 2022 at 12:48 pm
Truth is Brady wanted AB last year so the Bucs said ok. Tom took him into his own home and essentially babysat the head case that season. This year the crazy dude relapsed back to his me first ways. He is a cancer for any team that signs him. The whole mess is a shame. Add that to all the injuries and last years good luck has deserted the Bucs. They are still a good team but no longer a dominate team. Gonna be tough to repeat.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:48 pm
Karen Green we will see how hurt that ankle is. Lol
January 6th, 2022 at 12:49 pm
Wild Bill while it will be tough there’s a lot of teams out there in the nfc that aren’t explosive as you think. The only team with a handful of wideouts is the Dallas cowboys.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:50 pm
This stuff just makes signing godwin a big priority. Maybe they bring someone else as well who knows.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:58 pm
If his contract is guaranteed doesn’t he still get paid? 1800- Jerry-Jones. Lamb, Copper, Brown?? OUCH! or Kupp, OBJ, Brown? The one that really sticks out is AZ with the loss of Hopkins.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:59 pm
The Bucs (more specifically Brady) were the only team willing to take a chance on AB after the debacles with the Steelers, Patriots, and Raiders.
He was on course for a decent payday after this year.
I doubt a team will touch him.
His agent must be losing it.
January 6th, 2022 at 1:03 pm
Interesting… so they’re NOT saying he didn’t tell Arians he was hurt, which is what Arians claims, instead they’re saying he tell medical… Again, Greg Auman reported a 3rd party on the sideline heard Brown tell Arians he was hurt.
I know people want to have a bad guy, most people want AB to be the bad guy, and some want Arians to be the bad guy, but again, the simplest response is Arians didn’t hear him say that as that exchange was only a few seconds on a busy NFL sideline.
January 6th, 2022 at 1:04 pm
Passing thru
You must have been typing at the same time that I was.
It’s good strategery😂. I kind of feel bad for TB12. AB dumped on a guy who really went to bat for him.
I’m sure you know Angela Mayou’s “ When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.”
January 6th, 2022 at 1:13 pm
Right move BUCS. AB is an SOB. He is a distraction to our BUCS team. LEts focus now on the Panthers and the playoffs. I dont think any team will sign him anyway if he said he was injured otherwise, he just destroyed his argument that he is really injured.
January 6th, 2022 at 1:14 pm
Francisco … I can’t even begin to envision any scenario in which one of this year’s playoff teams signs Antonio Brown. Heck, nobody wanted him before the Bucs signed him last year. He’s as volatile as they come, and in today’s world that translates into a litigation nightmare (it’s coming; AB’s side is just posturing right now).
NFL owners are business men & business women. And AB is bad business. He’s done in the NFL. No TV contracts or endorsement contracts or coaching contracts coming his way either. Nope, he’s done … except in court.
January 6th, 2022 at 1:16 pm
DR
Yep. But as far as court goes, he really just sunk his own ship.
January 6th, 2022 at 1:24 pm
You will see Brady respond in his best performance these upcoming weeks- he does this after he’s been cut down….after the deflate gate suspension he came back with vengeance- have faith
January 6th, 2022 at 1:37 pm
My dad always told me when I was young, Son, Never..ever trust a chronic Liar.
Those words have always served me well as an adult. AB has a history of obsessive denial and lying. Kinda like the kid who cried Wolf. after many lies, even if he tells the truth, its still a Lie. If the commish can ban Gruden for comments he made 10 yrs ago then, he ought to be able to ban AB for years of untruths and theatrics,
January 6th, 2022 at 1:40 pm
yup…AB put himself in a corner…
gave bucs the leverage to release him…
if he signs with another team he played himself royally…and publicly…
AB also attacked brady on social media – are you kidding ?????
the bucs should not stress, stay cool, stay smart, and let AB continue to throw mudd all over himself
January 6th, 2022 at 1:54 pm
The fact that this guy even went out attacking Brady, the only guy that still trusted him and brought him back in the league last year, tells you enough about this whole story. AB can not be trusted.
January 6th, 2022 at 1:54 pm
Who cares. He’s gone. Coach said so days ago. Its playoff time. This kind of attention suck takes away from the playoff run ahead. Move on.
January 6th, 2022 at 2:36 pm
He gets all these chances but insists on screwing himself. Will he get a forth chance?
January 6th, 2022 at 2:38 pm
Goodbye Karen. Enjoy New Orleans.
January 6th, 2022 at 2:53 pm
next up:
jake paul vs AB…
5-10 mil to kiss the canvas
January 6th, 2022 at 3:11 pm
Something is so NOT right about any of this. People are motivated by money. Always follow the money. Did someone make AB an offer he couldn’t refuse??? Did someone pay him a few milli to quit??? Just wondering, cuz again, none of the BS stories we’ve heard so far make a lick of sense.
January 6th, 2022 at 3:45 pm
^^^^^
yeah i was thinking the same thing…
did a sean payton type or someone meet him in dennys with a heavy azz briefcase and pay him way more than his salary to flip the script…
and then say come play for me next year as well…
#TheseThingsHappen
#TenMillionInAyeBriefcaseAndAyeGrandSlamBreakfastAt4am
January 6th, 2022 at 4:43 pm
I don’t understand the way this works. This is a question for someone who may understand it. When Chris Godwin got injured, I’m sure the Buccaneers have continued paying him for the entire year. The Bucs couldn’t cut Chris to avoid paying him I assume. Why would the Bucs cut Antonio? Since they released him and called it an injury, I assume the Bucs will still be forced to pay him for the rest of the year ( including playoff money).
He publicly quit. Why is that not part of the statement. Someone educate me please
January 6th, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Rod Munch Says:
“… so they’re NOT saying he didn’t tell Arians he was hurt, which is what Arians claims, instead they’re saying he tell medical…”
.
.
There are protocols to follow if you get hurt. Those protocols involve the training/medical staff. By all accounts so far, he never sought treatment on the sideline, so even if he said that (speculation, possibly fiction), he was still wrong.
OMG, give it a break, Madame Crystal.
January 6th, 2022 at 5:10 pm
Dyno-White ! # 45 Says:
“Since they released him and called it an injury, I assume the Bucs will still be forced to pay him for the rest of the year ( including playoff money).
“He publicly quit. Why is that not part of the statement. Someone educate me please.”
.
.
I don’t claim to be knowledgeable about NFL contracts, but I know there are morals clauses. Certain poor behavior can trigger clauses which release the team from that contract. Since the statement says “terminated contract” and not “released,” I suspect that Brown will be foregoing his last paycheck. Of course he has a grievance and/or arbitration clause that he may avail himself of, so this will probably drag out for a little while.
The team will probably still be on the hook for surgery to the ankle/foot. But even there, he could mess that up if he doesn’t follow certain protocols, I think.
January 6th, 2022 at 7:47 pm
Anyone siding with a Brown or trying to find fault with BA or Jason Licht needs to step back and check themselves with a little bit of reality.
AB is a whining, diva, immature, distraction of a person. It was fun while it lasted but he quit when he refused to go in. He walked out on his team and his offense while they were playing.
Screw him and the “I hope he gets the help he needs” mentality.
Adios, goodbye
Move forward.
January 6th, 2022 at 9:08 pm
Jason
When dealing with someone that is completely irrational, a lot of things might not make sense.
He slow played his injury… then he got a suspension he wasn’t expecting, then he thought he was so important that he wanted his incentives guaranteed. When that didn’t happen, he did what he does, throw a tantrum and quit.
Irrational , but true.
January 6th, 2022 at 9:38 pm
AB’s talent was a good thing for the Bucs last year and this year. He helped us become a better ballclub. Tom Brady did a good thing in bringing him to our team. Antonio then did what he has done to other clubs and became an absolute nightmare. His biggest sin for us was to desert Tom Brady, who gave him a chance to be more than what he was, and the entire team by saying “goodbye” when we were losing the game. Good guys don’t do that to their teammates. We should thank him for his contributions, wish him well and move on! We can beat this whole episode to death and lose sight of what is really important and that is “Win the damn Super bowl”.
January 6th, 2022 at 9:56 pm
What’s pathetic is his attack on Brady. Wow Brady doesn’t need your money. I think there are other things going on here but AB. You are the root of this. And for Brady just play ball
January 6th, 2022 at 10:38 pm
I saw a transcript online of Jason Licht’s statement today. He said at halftime
AB asked in the locker room for more throws and his incentives to be guaranteed. The point of incentives is they are not guaranteed they are incentives based on performance. Licht offered him an additional financial incentive. AB turned it down. Then in the middle of the BUC’s trying to comeback against the Jets, AB started to bother Tom Brady again about wanting more throws. Tom was upset and wouldn’t discuss it. Then BA saw AB was needed for particular plays and asked him twice to get in the game and he refused.
I saw interviews with other former NFL players, that said if you are injured and can’t play you don”t dress for the game and the protocol is you notify the trainers who make a judgement and let the coaches know.
AB didn’t contact the trainers. They said even if he really couldn’t play, you either sit on the bench or go to the locker room and change, you don’t put on a bizarre show.
January 6th, 2022 at 10:39 pm
This will galvanize this team. Assuming we can get a few guys back and stay healthy through the playoffs, I like our chances to repeat.
January 7th, 2022 at 1:49 am
He’s a LIAR !! After EVERYTHING the team did for him even after his tantrum , they were going to put him on injured reserve so he could still get his money and the team would pay for his treatment on the ankle.. But he didn’t want to take the offer just so he could cause more DRAMA and LIE about his TEAM AND TEAMMATES !! HE JUST TOOK A DUMP ON THE BUCS AND US FAN’S .. I felt bad for him until today .. GOOD LUCK PLAYING AGAIN !! IF HE DOES FIND A TEAM NEXT YEAR , JAGS are probably the only team that would sign him .. HAVE FUN !! And if he does sign with a team for the rest of this year , then that whole “MY ANKLE IS BROKEN AND I NEED SURGERY” goes out the window , not that anyone believes that garbage he had his agent write for him.
January 7th, 2022 at 1:51 am
You could tell when it was him writing and when it was his agent . He CAN’T SPELL “CAN’T” HE SPELLED IT “CAINT” LMAO .. GO BUCS
January 7th, 2022 at 3:43 am
PassingThru Says:
January 6th, 2022 at 12:44 pm
To my knowledge, all the tweets by “NFL analysts” are wrong. AB is not subject to waivers. He’s a vested vet. His contract was terminated. Another team cannot accept that contract, and he does not hit the waiver wire. He’s an unrestricted free agent.
Just a simple search regarding NFL waiver wire rules reveals that the timing of when a player (vested vet or otherwise) is waived/released determines their waiver status which various sources document the following:
“When a player has less than four years of accrued seasons in the NFL, he has to get waived. An accrued season is a year in which a player spends six or more weeks on the team’s 53-man roster. If the player doesn’t mean that criteria, then he must be released. However, all players, including veterans, must clear waivers if they’re cut after the trade deadline.”
“When the trade deadline passes—which is November 2 in 2021—every player that is cut must go through waivers, even veterans with more than four years of experience.”
“A vested veteran, meanwhile, is one with four years of service time under their belt. They become free agents immediately prior to the trade deadline. However, after the trade deadline, any player that is being “released” must go through the waiver system.”
“When the trade deadline ends, every player that is cut must go through waivers with no exceptions. That is to say that the process even applies to veterans with more than four years of experience in the league.”
“Players with 4+ seasons of service time are “released.” These players, known as “vested veterans,” do not pass through waivers and are free agents immediately, free to sign with any other team.
These rules apply until the trade deadline (presently the Tuesday after Week 8 of the NFL season). After the trade deadline (until the start of the next league year in March), all players – whether a vested veteran or a non-vested veteran – are “waived” and subject to the waiver process.”
Most likely no team will exercise a waiver claim, as to nullify paying the remainder of the player’s existing contract. OBJ had to clear waivers, because even though he’s a vested player, his released occurred after the trade deadline. The Bucs had a higher waiver priority than the Rams, but chose not to exercise their waiver claim and the remaining 31 teams also passed. The Rams were able to make a new prorated contract offer after OBJ cleared the mandatory 24 hour waiver wire window. Hence, like OBJ, AB is still subject to a waiver claim, despite his vested status.