Report: Brown refused to go back into game due to ankle injury
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown refused to re-enter Sunday's game against the New York Jets because of an ankle injury, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.
The 33-year-old had been dealing with the injury for weeks. Brown reportedly told Tampa Bay's coaching staff that he would not take the field because he did not feel he was healthy, Rapoport said.
However, Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said Monday that Brown didn't tell coaches he was injured and it was the wideout's decision to leave the field, according to The Athletic's Greg Auman.
Arians asked Brown to go back in the game while the Buccaneers were driving the field with 3:30 left in the third quarter, according to NBC Sports' Peter King. "Nope, I'm not going in," Brown said, according to Arians.
The Buccaneers' coaching staff reportedly then threw him off the sideline and cut him from the team, according to Rapoport.
Arians told King he was "very" angry with Brown, who walked over to the bench and began taking off his jersey and shoulder pads. Teammate Mike Evans attempted to stop Brown from leaving, but the receiver "had that look in his eye that I haven't seen for a long time," said Arians.
Antonio Brown ran off the field shirtless after showing some frustration on the sidelines.@JenHale504 pic.twitter.com/Jet6ofnNm2
- FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 2, 2022
The disgruntled pass-catcher removed his jersey and pads and tossed his shirt into the crowd before giving the peace sign and running into the end-zone tunnel.
Arians later said he was unsure if quarterback Tom Brady knew that Brown had left the sideline.
"I don't think Tom knew," the coach told King. "I knew and Mike Evans knew, but if anyone else did, I don't know that. We kept playing the game."
Brady led the Buccaneers to a 28-24 comeback victory, throwing the game-winning touchdown to Cyril Grayson with 15 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Arians announced that the Buccaneers were cutting Brown.
"That's obviously a difficult situation," Brady said postgame. "We all love him and care about him deeply."
"I wish him well," Arians said Monday, according to Auman. I hope if he needs help, (he) gets some. It's very hard. I do care about him."
Brown missed time this season due to the ankle injury as well as a three-game suspension for misrepresenting his COVID-19 vaccination status.
The seven-time Pro Bowler hauled in three receptions for 26 yards before leaving Sunday's contest. He totaled 42 receptions for 545 yards and four touchdowns in his second campaign with Tampa Bay.
With Brown off the team and Chris Godwin out for the season with a torn ACL, Tampa Bay will rely on Evans, Rob Gronkowski, Jaelon Darden, and Tyler Johnson.
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