Gruden: 'We tried every way possible to make it work' with Brown

The Oakland Raiders-Antonio Brown saga is finally over.

After six turbulent months, the Raiders released Brown after he requested his dismissal via a social media post Saturday morning.

"We just have exhausted everything, we tried every way possible to make it work," head coach Jon Gruden said Saturday afternoon. "All I'm going to say is it's disappointing. I'm really proud of our players, our coaches, our owner, our front office. We did everything we could to make this work. I'm sorry it didn't."

Gruden wouldn't pinpoint what exactly was the final straw for the franchise, but he said he holds no ill will toward the receiver.

"I apologize but I will tell you I'm very proud of what we did as an organization. I wish Antonio nothing but the best. I'm sorry that we never got the chance to see him in the Silver and Black. Very disappointing," Gruden said.

"I really looked forward to coaching him, but it's not going to happen," he added.

Gruden also defended Brown, who missed much of training camp and the entire preseason with a litany of issues, including frostbitten feet, a helmet grievance, and a dispute with the team's general manager over a fine.

"I tell you, he's a good guy. Misunderstood by a lot of people but he's a good guy, he's a great player. I hope he gets what he's looking for," Gruden said of Brown.

As for Gruden's voice being heard in a YouTube video that Brown shared, the head coach was happy to laugh off the entire situation.

"Might have been Frank Caliendo," he said with a laugh.

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