This past NFL Sunday football game where the NY Jets hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Antonio Brown was seen leaving and walking off the field midway through the 3rd quarter as the Bucs trailed the NY Jets 10-24. He removed his pads and jersey and took off his gloves and threw them into the stands. He then jogged off the field as the two teams were in their huddles on field. Coach Bruce Arians said in a nationally televised press conference that AB (Antonio Brown) “refused to enter the game” so Coach Arians told Brown to “leave the game.” After a few days of silence on the topic, Brown’s agent released a statement from Brown about the situation.
Brown stated,”Because of my commitment to the game, I relented to pressure directly from my coach to play injured,” Brown said in the statement. “Despite the pain, I suited up, the staff injected me with a dangerous painkiller that the NFLPA has warned against using, and I gave my all for the team. I played until it was clear that I could not use my ankle to safely perform my playing responsibilities.”
“I was cut from the team on the sideline, I didn’t quit, they cut me.”
Brown also said he had bone fragments and a torn ligament in his ankle and that the Bucs had injected him with a dangerous Painkiller the NFLPA has stated to be dangerous and that players should refrain from using it. Coach Arians deflected any knowledge of knowing about Brown’s ankle pain. Brown took to social media screenshots of messages between himself and Coach Arians. Bruce Arians was seen messaging Brown saying,
“This is BA, get your [sic] is ready to go tomorrow. We ARE NOT resting for playoffs.”
Brown then sent a reply with a picture of him getting treatment on his ankle.
“ I’m all in coach, really cain’t go full speed I wanna win wanna be there if I wake up tomorrow feel better I’ll be ready kinda rolled it outside on 2pt play I want whats best for team lmk (let me know) when u free I’ll call you.”
This story is actively still developing.
