Antonio Brown Issues A Statement
January 5th, 2022
It seems Bucs fans may soon see text messages on social media from Bucco Bruce Arians and general manager Jason Licht.
If they’re posted, they’re sure to come from the shirtless quitter, future Hall of Fame receiver Antonio Brown.
For those just catching up, Brown bailed on the Bucs in the middle of Sunday’s game, hurling his undershirt and gloves into the stands and delighting the MetLife Stadium crowd with jumping jacks in the end zone opposite where the Bucs were trying to score a touchdown.
Arians claims Brown quit. Brown claims (now in great detail below via Twitter) that he was cut on the field because he wouldn’t play hurt. And Brown says he has massive ankle damage, will soon have surgery from an esteemed New York surgeon and the Bucs are conning the world.
What a Wednesday!
Joe has spent the last few of days with Ira Kaufman digging up hard truths about what happened — and didn’t happen — and is planning to share tomorrow.
Statement from Antonio Brown via his attorney @seanburstyn: pic.twitter.com/pJ3VGFBjSy
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2022
January 5th, 2022 at 9:44 pm
Sounds pretty legit to me. How AB handled it, not sure about that but we know BA is a spin master. I can see BA, TB, Gronk and Lenny all walking next year.
January 5th, 2022 at 9:47 pm
Lol..
January 5th, 2022 at 9:48 pm
Bucs covered
Their ass. They havent cut him yet. He left the field. It is not a crime to tell a player you are done. Nothing new here.
January 5th, 2022 at 9:48 pm
Get your popcorn ready
January 5th, 2022 at 9:50 pm
If this is true then I believe BA is an A-Hole. If AB can show texts to this effect that would validate the above comment.
January 5th, 2022 at 9:50 pm
Total reboot coming next year for sure. We will be back in thr cellar of the NFC talking draft in October. Was a fun 2 years but saw this coming for a few weeks now. Such a shame and bucs schedule is brutal next year. 5 wins max next year maybe less once Brady retires. Kyle Trash leading the way is going to be ugly. We are going to lose essentially our entire roster. It hurts to type this but it’s reality and we all need to realize it.
January 5th, 2022 at 9:51 pm
Just what the Bucs needed. The too hurt to play thing sounds like a CYA move. Much more to the character is his reputed meltdown in the locker room at halftime because he wasn;t getting enough targets and ME was getting too many.
January 5th, 2022 at 9:51 pm
Gotta love the drama that won’t end. All you ever have heard is good things about Arians. To just chuck him for something that simple, I just don’t buy it. The dude who been a pain in the a$$ most of his career is now the victim. Guess we’ll see what the Joes and Ira have to say. What a Wednesday indeed!
January 5th, 2022 at 9:51 pm
now it’s AB vs bucs.
January 5th, 2022 at 9:53 pm
We know that Antonio Brown and his PR team are clearly trying to spin this now. Took them 3 and 12 days to come up with their spin. Some will believe it.
Before, you say that he has a doctor that supports his position. I will say to you that I worked in medical litigation for years. Each side always hires their own doctor to put on a medical spin. Until you actually have an independent medical expert look at the MRI film and look at how new or how chronic those findings in the ankle MRI, you cannot just blindly accept the word of one side and their position.
January 5th, 2022 at 9:53 pm
AB never followed in-game injury protocol to get examined by the trainers during the game. So the trainers never knew, therefore never told BA he was hurt..so Brown took it upon himself to quit and throw a hissy fit.
January 5th, 2022 at 9:53 pm
If this is indeed true i can see BA gone after this season. 🤦♂️
January 5th, 2022 at 9:57 pm
AB has given us no reason to believe him! He lost credibility after dozens of antics!
January 5th, 2022 at 9:57 pm
I do agree about AB trying to spin this.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:00 pm
AB was a distraction before this episode, and he was on a short leash. There’s more to this.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:03 pm
You guys believe everything you hear…… Stay out of it it’s a non issue for us fans what’s done in the dark will come to the light.
#InBucsITrust
January 5th, 2022 at 10:06 pm
AB sounds like he is being truthful and sincere in his public statement.
Bad look for the Bucs and AB comes out of this looking like a reasonable, sane, sober-minded, somewhat justified person in this case…
January 5th, 2022 at 10:06 pm
Lol at people believing Antonio Brown………Antonio Brown!!
January 5th, 2022 at 10:07 pm
Anyone believing AB should know better. This is part of AB’s game people. Rumor is AB was complaining at half-time about Gronk getting all of the touches.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:10 pm
AB says he is injured, so just put him on IR and sort it out after the season is over. BA needs to focus on football not AB or his attorney’s stories. There is always another side to the story, but right now the Bucs need to be focused on winning.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:10 pm
On one hand you have a guy who has been around the league for decades who the *vast* majority of his players worship.
On the other hand, you have a well-documented mental patient/quitter who, as recently as this summer, conned his own teammates and coaches that he got the jab.
Joe knows whose word he would trust.
Brown is trying to get the Bucs on the hook for his surgery and his last paycheck of the season. Nothing more.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:11 pm
Seems AB chose to try his case in the court of public opinion as opposed to through the NFLPA or a civil suit.
Experience tells me this is the hand of a loser.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:12 pm
As long as he was cleared to play. The Bucs are covered. AB knows protocol. He should have went over to the trainers and said he was injured. BA did not know.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:12 pm
Good God, you sheep. Taking anything AB says as true. You are either naive or against this team.
Yeah, Arians ran off a really top-flight wide receiver in this league. Why? Why did he do that? Answer that question. It makes NO SENSE, SHEEP.
AB was well enough to run around the field L, do jumping jacks, toss his gloves into the audience and make an ass out of himself. If you believe that he was too hurt to play and he told Arias that he was hurt and he couldn’t play and that was believable then you need to just trade in your Buccaneers fandom and go cheer for the Saints or the Packers or the Redskins or some other loser team because that’s where you belong.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:13 pm
Antonio Brown: For the last four years has been an unreliable headache to all his employers, business partners and friends, and has had drama follow him wherever he’s gone. Presumably has enough money to afford a good attorney.
Bruce Arians: Has been universally loved by his players his entire career.
Yeah, this is not rocket science.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:13 pm
I knew AB was going to do what he does best..LIE. His history proves he cannot be trusted. I can’t wait for him to play for another team next season and start the drama all over again.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:14 pm
Typical AB behavior……it’s always everyone’s else fault…..never facing up to horrors he’s brought upon himself.
I have zero sympathy for him……besides…..he’s a millionaire and can live comfortably for the rest of his life.
GOOD RIDDENS!!!
January 5th, 2022 at 10:14 pm
To think. All AB had to do was say he couldn’t play during warm up. Or go in the game and lay down after the play like everyone else to get medical attention. Not like we didn’t have backup to take his place. Gee this guy here.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:16 pm
Somewhere there is film, did BA do the cut throat, film don’t lie
January 5th, 2022 at 10:17 pm
Even if he was actually injured… THAT’s the way you go about it? And conveniently release a statement through your lawyer three days later? I’m smelling BS. You’re injured yet never go to the trainers during the game. This would have a great deal more credence had he taken a seat on the bench and refused to go in. Not conduct a circus show. Sorry.
Suspend him without pay for conduct detrimental to the team. Let him appeal. Team shows the video. Sits down.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:17 pm
This just sucks. It’s unfortunate but I believe AB’s history makes this statement look like a well written joke. Time to move on. It just sucks.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:17 pm
Wow, this is pretty much the scenario I put forth the other day.
I’m more convinced than ever, Arians simply didn’t hear Brown said his ankle was hurt, just heard “I can’t” or maybe even Arians thinks Brown said, “I won’t.” Arians then said “you’re done”, according to him meaning for the game, and the nutjob Brown thought he was cut, not done for the game.
The original report from Greg Auman said a third party on the sideline told him that Brown DID say his ankle was hurt before Arians said you’re done. So either Arians is lying about not hearing Brown, or the old man, standing on a loud NFL sideline, just didn’t hear him.
So the two of them literally could have just hugged it out and chalked it up to a big misunderstanding…
For all the issues Brown has had over the years, no one ever said he did anything during a game or on the field. But if you think the coach just said ‘f your injury, play anyways’ and then you think that same coach says, ‘you’re fired’, I can see acting up.
In any case I laid out this exact scenario on Sunday only to be repeatedly attacked. But simple fact is, most issues in the world come from stupid, nonsensical, miscommunications and then people digging into their positions.
Brady needs to get the two on a Zoom call and make them kiss and make up, then go win another Super Bowl.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:19 pm
Unfortunately for him, no one is going to believe the crazy guy, even if he was hurt. In his one reception, he twisted the CB into a pretzel. but that was painkillers.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:19 pm
Why the hell he didn’t talk like this when he got caught using the fake vaccination card
January 5th, 2022 at 10:20 pm
So he jogs off the field, unassisted, does jumping jacks in the end zone, after playing a full half of football and we’re to believe he forced to play injured? Oh and the Bucs forced him to a one million dollar bonus? How many times do we hear about team’s screwing over players to avoid a bonus but here is the only time in history a team forced a guy to play where he could’ve likely made another million? Ok AB. This coming from a guy with a fake Vax card and who rode a bike while wearing his ankle cast and no helmet?
January 5th, 2022 at 10:20 pm
So the Bucs let AB rest his ankle for a majority of the season and now we are to believe AB was suddenly forced to play.
I don’t see Lenny, Lavonte, JPP, Shaq, being forced back early even though we could really use them.
I did not see SMB, Carlton, Winfield forced back early
No history of the Bucs forcing players back early. If the Bucs were forcing players to play injured why did all these players resign this year
Same people who thought BA and Brady were not getting along last year are the same who suddenly believe BA is forcing players to play hurt.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:21 pm
Amazing how a week earlier on the same bum ankle ha caught 10 passes and never said a word. But then after another week of healing he flips out. If you release all of that info why not release the texts also. Because there is none. If you as any of us just did what ab did and had proof to back it up why would you release it. He just by saying he has texts messages from Licht will make everyone believe that without ever showing you proof. Your jumping jacks and spinning running off the field your face didn’t grimace in pain. So that shows right there you we’re not in extreme pain. I have turned my ankle many times in basketball. And would never be able to do that walk off that he did just with a sprained ankle. Show the texts why wouldn’t you. In that big press release. Because your a psychopath who has been kicked off of 4 teams in 3 years twice quitting on your team who was in the playoffs.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:22 pm
AB’s lawyers better get paid in advance….
January 5th, 2022 at 10:23 pm
Listen to all you buc haters side with brown, his ankle looked pretty good when he was dancing in the opposite end zone. He hasn’t been the same since Burflict leveled him and that is a shame, still not Arians fault though.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:23 pm
Joe – But what about the reports that say people on the sidelines heard Brown tell Arians he was injured, and then Arians saying he never heard that. You don’t think that could have a domino effect? Arians gets p/o’d because he thinks Brown is refusing to play, and Brown is getting p/o’d because he thinks Arians is saying shut up with your whinning and do what you’re told.
You don’t think the simplest answer is the most likely one? Arians didn’t hear something and Brown misunderstood what Arians meant? I mean that literally is the plot of 93% of all movies that get made.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:24 pm
We don’t know exactly what happened on the sidelines but there’s zero chance it happened like he said.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:26 pm
What a fing dueche bag. He could play the whole first half with no pain.then he has pain when coiach tells him to go in game then he has no pain when he does kiddy jumping jacks waving. I guess we are getting what we signed up for. But I’m starting to seriously hate this guy trying to fleece my bucs
January 5th, 2022 at 10:28 pm
That fake story is so cliche the only thing its missing is “as I told the coach how wrong he was the whole sideline clapped for me”
January 5th, 2022 at 10:28 pm
All of you come lately bucs fans who side with a how many times loser? Over Brady and our coach go front run somewhere else. You disgust me if I see you with a bucs flag I’ll smack you. Go root for the Packers
January 5th, 2022 at 10:32 pm
When you watch the drive that Brady and the Bucs were having before the AB antics, they show the sideline a few times. The offensive skill players that were not in the game were doing what they typically do.
They were standing near the front of the field near where offensive players typically do waiting to enter the game. Where was AB?
Well he was not standing with them and he was not talking to the trainers. He was doing his own thing.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:33 pm
Didnt AB show up to his first Raiders practice in a hot air balloon?
Seems like a lot of hot air to me. 😂
I mean look at ABs history. He cray cray. Him and TO
On the other hand , could arians have handled a with kids gloves until this dang season was over …i think so. They obviously didnt like each other. But without godwin , arians could have just waited until end of season to say get lost . Sucks.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:34 pm
MAGA….Make Arians Great Again
January 5th, 2022 at 10:35 pm
This is a crazy fanbase we have. Y’all believing AB over BA? Did anyone see AB go to the medical tent after claiming he was hurt or go in the game run a play then come off and go to the tent?
Even if it is true that he hurt his ankle he can’t self diagnose and decide he’s not going to play all he had to do was follow the protocol.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:37 pm
With all the injuries this team has suffered this year why the hell would they force AB of all people and the only drama queen on the team to play hurt?
January 5th, 2022 at 10:40 pm
If your hurt you get evaluated by the trainers and rules out period end of story, it does not happen any other way. There is a reason for that protocol and a sideline reporter to update those watching the game
January 5th, 2022 at 10:45 pm
Greg Auman, unless he pulled his reporting, says he was told by someone ON the sideline that when Arians told Brown to go into the game, Brown responded by saying his ankle was hurt and he couldn’t, and that Arians then said ‘you’re done’…
Is it not possible that Brown, who was on the injury report with an ankle issue, and for all his antics has never had any on-field issues… Isn’t it possible he tweaks his ankle or something in the first half, during half-time he starts to feel it, comes out on the opening drive, knows he doesn’t feel right, takes a seat.
Isn’t it also possible that Arians sees Brown on the bench, yells at him to get into the game, doesn’t hear the part about Brown’s ankle, just thinks AB is blowing him off, and Arians gets p/o’d and yells ‘you’re done’…
Isn’t is also then possible that AB, who thinks/knows that Arians never wanted him here (Brady did, Licht made it happen), in his mind is being yelled out over being injured, hears ‘you’re done’ and, being a nutjob, thinks that means he’s basically just been fired – with a lot of money in reach as well…
How is that not THE most likely scenario when you have legit reporting that says Brown DID tell Arians he was injured.
Why is that so hard to believe?
January 5th, 2022 at 10:49 pm
I suppose we’re due to implode following a SB winning season. History repeats itself. This has all of the unscrupulous melodrama of Gruden vs Keyshawn + McKay.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:58 pm
@rod munch
BA is not a doctor, you cannot sideline yourself without checking out with actual medical professionals on the sidelines. Yep it is very possible and maybe even likely he hurt his ankle, all the more reason to go get checked out and either cleared or ruled out and someone else could tell BA that he wasn’t available. The coach is behind and trying to win a game he doesn’t have time deal with drama in game, he can barely manage the clock
January 5th, 2022 at 11:07 pm
The hypothesis of Rod Munch seems realistic. It was noisy out there while BA and Tom got mad because of their poor performances. They forget that AB is a different guy who should be treated differently.
January 5th, 2022 at 11:07 pm
I had a bad feeling it was going to come down to this, that there was a lot more to this story than Arians just asking Brown to get into the game and Brown refusing. There was a backstory that preceded any halftime incident.
Too much drama created at the worst possible time.
January 5th, 2022 at 11:12 pm
I look forward to what JBF shares with us tomorrow.
It is obvious that some of the posters here are not Bucs fans at all. They are the one’s who don’t trust decisions either Arians or Licht make. Nor do they believe even one thing Arians has said.
January 5th, 2022 at 11:13 pm
yeah he looked severely injured dancing and jumping in the end zone
January 5th, 2022 at 11:16 pm
AB knew what he was doing the whole time!! And that’s get paid without playing a down just like he done in with the Raiders , Pittsburgh, and the Patriots and now the bucs!! Why all these people talking about cte and the hit he took against the Cincinnati and everyone forgot he act the same way in college!! Ain’t nothing wrong with AB mental health he’s just a selfish and stupid man with a bad attitude and I don’t are never have I felt sorry for AB. So no more cte excuses for AB check his behavior in high school and college and you will see he always been that way!! We don’t need him to win a championship this year !! Time for us to come together as a fan base!! Go bucs !!
January 5th, 2022 at 11:18 pm
Pewter Power – Arians said he didn’t heard Brown say anything about being hurt. That’s my point. Arians didn’t say he heard it and didn’t believe it, or it didn’t go through proper channels, Arians is saying he didn’t hear Brown say that, when reporting says Brown did say it.
That doesn’t mean Arians is a bad guy or did anything wrong.
The simplest answer, in most cases, is the right answer. The simplest answer here is that Brown said something, Arians didn’t hear it, that misunderstanding lead to things spiraling out of control.
Not everything has to be a children’s book where you have a clear villain and a clear good guy, in real life, things are generally always in the muddy middle.
January 5th, 2022 at 11:20 pm
Damn I bet the NFL will be putting forth an investigation into the Bucs. This is probably going to get pretty ugly and be a huge distraction as far as the playoffs go. If any of this is true and the team is injecting pain killers and forcing guys to play it might explain all the damn leg injuries who really knows what happens behind closed doors. I mean Tom Brady was hurt for a damn year and no one knew about it until he had off season surgery. At the end of the day it is a business and everyone wants to make their money from the owners to the players.
January 5th, 2022 at 11:25 pm
Smells like A.B. might have possibly set them up with the text messaging
January 5th, 2022 at 11:30 pm
If AB produces an MRI showing he is hurt, has surgery and he produces the text messages from Arians and Licht a lot of people will owe him an apology.
Its weird to see so many brainwashed citizens always side with management over the player, knowing the history of how poorly corporations treat employees. Mistreatment happens to the everyday man, what makes you think it wouldn’t happened to an athlete. The more they pay, you the more they feel they own you.
January 5th, 2022 at 11:38 pm
I don’t believe AB. Dude was out for 2 months. The guy’s a pos!
January 5th, 2022 at 11:42 pm
someone is trying to destroy the bucs………………………….
January 5th, 2022 at 11:43 pm
It was week 17 in the NFL. Everyone is hurt. AB has been a problem in the locker room since he came back from the suspension. His word is BS. The guy is a sociopath. Great receiver but he’s mental.
January 5th, 2022 at 11:44 pm
I don’t think the NFL will care that much to put much effort as far as investigation goes into the allegations Antonio has against the Bucs. They will pretty much flush Antonio out of the league. Go Bucs! Playoff time baby!
January 5th, 2022 at 11:47 pm
AB has a nice resume outside football. Arians is a two face.
Arians should’ve stayed home and rest.
Both are DIVAS. Like geno 711 and steven007
January 5th, 2022 at 11:48 pm
What a mess! Talk about one individual bringing down an entire team! Lawyers will probably be sitting down with players endlessly discussing the situation, distracting them right before and during the playoffs. Arians and Brady don’t need all this. I really hope the Bucs will do well despite the adversity. Let’s hope Arians and Brady will return next year. Thanks for bringing all your drama to the Buccaneers AB! Thanks a whole bunch!
January 5th, 2022 at 11:51 pm
This will go on like keeping up with the kardashian , geno711 and steven007.
All i care is next game. A Win. Not too worry about who we face. I would to face the rams. And get revenge.
January 5th, 2022 at 11:52 pm
“I love my teammates”
“I love Bucs fans”
He left out- “I just don’t know how to act like a professional athlete”
January 5th, 2022 at 11:53 pm
what if:
a big dog on another team got to him since he isn’t being paid properly in tampa…
like a saint’s payton or someone who promised him a nice juicy paycheck next year and a starting wideout role with big numbers…
what if… they met with him at dennys and gave him a heavy azz briefcase and said take your team down and come work with us next season…
what if AB is a double agent destroying the bucs…
what if AB watches too much maxwell smart and agent 99
January 5th, 2022 at 11:58 pm
And you are apparently fully ignoring Brown’s rich history of being a con artist and a cancer.
January 5th, 2022 at 11:59 pm
AB forgot one crucial detail in his excellently fabricated story:
Nobody ever consulted with the trainers. Not before he left, not during, and not immediately after. There are no reports of AB getting his ankle checked at halftime. Rappoport and AB himself fail to mention any sort of opinion being formed or even sought out by the readily available trainers on the sideline of every minute of every NFL game.
With Chris Godwin done for the year and Mike Evans hobbled with a hamstring injury, AB is essentially WR1 on the team. There is not a snowball’s chance in hell that Bruce Arians was told by AB that his ankle injury had flared up again and Bruce Arian’s first response was to throw him off the team. Zero chance. The very first thing any Super Bowl caliber coach would do is have the trainers check on the best available WR on the team and give their professional opinion on an already well documented injury.
Combine that with AB’s history as a diva and his story quickly starts to have holes poked in it like Swiss cheese.
We will see what happens next.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:03 am
It sounds well written and sincere because it wasn’t even AB that wrote that guys c’mon. If it’s true then yeah that’s really bad. My question would be is AB the only guy ordered to play with an injury or he’s cut? Or is he just the first one to refuse? Or are we going with the spin that the Bucs were SK short handed and desperate that BA cracked and not the guy who’s known for his issues? Well if he’s really got texts it’ll be bad.
I feel like even if it’s complete bs a lot of the damage has been done.. it’s officially a distraction.. could be a complete fabrication and we still lose. Sounds a lot like dealing with my ex for custody lol
January 6th, 2022 at 12:05 am
If it was up to BA, all the hurt players would play until their wheels fall off. He’s echoed that sentiment time and time again. He’s an old school Bear Bryant disciple. Everyone on this site must realize the truth to that statement. While the AB statement is clearly crafted with his lawyers council, the premise of it is not so far fetched, although may be slightly embellished.
I had a lower disc injury and a dispute on the practice field with my college baseball coach in which he accused me of not giving effort during a drill. I winced in pain and could not dive into first base. This was after their own team drs. had seen me prior and recommended a surgical solution. I didn’t like him basically questioning me to the core of my character, and when he cursed me in front of the team and threatened my scholarship, I told him I didn’t need his bs- it was a mutual quitting/firing in which I lost the scholarship and left the school. This is all very familiar to me.
They pulled my scholarship and I still owed the tuition at a private university. I told them to f themselves and never paid it out of principal, withdrew and left the college.
It sat on my credit report for 7 years.
I wish I wasn’t a 20 year old kid, but rather a multi- millionaire with a solid attorney to tell my perspective and put out a public, pressure inducing statement.
These kind of things do happen. I wasn’t planning out as the highest paid scholarship on the team and the coach was angry. He didn’t care for me or my attitude in general because I had already lost respect for him on several other valid occasions. He didn’t trust me….. but that doesn’t mean I was lying, in fact quite the opposite.
These issues are complicated with opposing perspectives
Just an unfortunate situation at this point in an already injury depleted season.
I’m not siding with AB- but I enjoy him calling out power structures- ie. Bob Kraft for going to the happy ending spa. Perhaps this situation. Good for him.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:07 am
*Panning out
January 6th, 2022 at 12:13 am
As for the throat cutting gesture- Could be some projection going on there. AB did that after his. Ice early reception- watch the tape. Also the rapper Kodak Black does that from the “Super Gremlin” video that AB seems to be referring to in his posts after this event.
Go watch and listen to the video and read the lyrics on line- it’s all about betrayal. My theory was that AB traded in his Tony Robbins tapes for this super gremlin character- he was in an amped up mindset to begin with and things blew up when he thought he was being attacked personally, whether his perception was true or half true or not at all true. AB doesn’t back down, it’s not in his makeup.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:13 am
*nice
January 6th, 2022 at 12:14 am
If AB or any other player has a problem with how their injury (ies) are being handled by a team or coach, they can lawyer up, complain to the players association or retire. Doing what AB did is unacceptable, period.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:16 am
Time to put him on injured reserve for rest of the season and move on without that distraction. Let him live his lie and heck even offer to pay for his “serious surgery” that will be money they never have to spend
January 6th, 2022 at 12:21 am
None of us know what is actually happening here but if your instinct is to side with AB and believe him after everything that’s gone on through his history, as well as a dozen things that have never been documented according to those in the know, you need to take a step back.
What we know-
-He had a hurt ankle but returned to practice and played the first half.
-He complained about playing time and pass is going to other people… Par for the course throughout his career.
-The Buccaneers had doctors look at him.
-He had his own doctors look at him
-He refuses to look at any more doctors the Buccaneers I’ve asked him to see
-He jogged skipped did jumping jacks while leaving the field… Thought exactly something most people would do if their ankles all really busted up
Again, we don’t know the truth but if the Bucs doctors are trying to shorten protocols to get players out there, that is a huge accusation that will destroy this organization. The NFL dealt with this a long time ago and allegedly had corrected the issue, especially the last 10 years with concussions bringing safety to the forefront.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:25 am
AB took it to his lawyer so he’s after the money. probably blackmailing the bucs as we speak. pay him and he’ll shut up. don’t and he’ll see you in court. learned from the cook. this is his last straw no NFL team will sign him because of this. heck coverup happens all the time. nobody knew Drew Brees was playing with 11 broken ribs. bucs conning the world ? is he 9 yr old? sad part of this is NFL might go by the book, BA loses his job.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:25 am
Does anyone actually believe he got his 10 reception performance last week and then had some nice plays early in the game when his ligament wss torn off the bone? Just seems bizarre. And if he’s lying it shouldn’t be that she’d to figure out..it would be hard for me to believe Brady would be so quiet about it and basically say AB is troubled.. even if he does r want to ruin the chances of a repeat
January 6th, 2022 at 12:36 am
Joe: we all know AB is complete lunatic. His ankle looked fine when he was making a fool of himself giving everyone a strip tease and doing jumping jacks. We all know he let down this team, but I couldn’t imagine letting down TB the way AB did. TB WENT TO BAT FOR HIM AND LET IM LIVE IN HIS HOME. That just shows AB only cares for AB and belongs in a mental institution.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:39 am
Aren’t there usually a couple players/coaches mic’d up during the games?
Are there no cameras around capturing the miracle season when the Bucs win back-to-back championships? It should be easy to find out who is telling the truth here…
January 6th, 2022 at 12:40 am
Aardvark, I do appreciate the rent-free space in your head. Cheers and have a good evening.
January 6th, 2022 at 12:44 am
So, let’s say that the Bucs win back-to-back… do you not think that there will be a number of players wanting to join up next season to get their own rings? OBJ was interested (if rumors are true). Honey Badger played for BA as a Card, and his contract is up for renewal. Its not hard to believe the talented players want to join up even as we lose some aging players.
I also have a theory for the year after… 🙂 TB retires but keeps in shape… he waits for the usual injuries and joins a team mid-season to turn them around and win his 10th SB. 🙂
January 6th, 2022 at 12:45 am
The only thing I can think about is what if we were actually winning that game vs the Jets like we should have been does any of this ever happen? This season has just been crazy only fitting thing would be to win another Super Bowl with some added drama. Go Bucs!
January 6th, 2022 at 12:46 am
I’m going with Arians on this one unless Brown can prove any of what sounds like utter nonsense coming from his camp. His history with every other team that he was on prior to ours speaks for itself. If you can’t act like an adult with a coach and qb whom teammates adore, you don’t deserve to be in the league. Looks like a total betrayal by Brown, but I’ll wait and see.
January 6th, 2022 at 1:06 am
AB’s claim that he was shot up with an unknown pain killer before the game is a classic NFL story but really Joe and Ira should be easy enough to verify
January 6th, 2022 at 1:18 am
if AB’s foot is as wrecked as AB says it is, next season at the age of 35 his career is completely over – basically he’s claiming he has a “totaled foot” like a totaled car…so wouldn’t that be the end of his career with all the other dramas and shenannies to this point…
tom works so hard…he must be so disgusted right now…
the season is going down the drain over bullsh!t, bullspit, and bullpucky
January 6th, 2022 at 1:31 am
We’ll see how this plays out, but I don’t doubt the fact that coaches expect players to play hurt. It is an old school mentality especially for coaches who are currently over the age of 50.
It’s been going on for decades from high school, to college, to the pros. That mentality has to change. Players cannot play through serious injuries.
January 6th, 2022 at 1:55 am
There wont be any texts from Bucs showing anything of the magnitude. Socios be socios. Of course he blames the Bucs. He still is in denial. What did you think was gona happen? Cmon Bucs cut him….actually cut his ankle off
January 6th, 2022 at 2:00 am
he wasn’t getting the targets he wanted and he was tired of running routes for nothing no doubt that is what he thought he knew his foot hurt and was limited so he bailed instead of run more routes he is broadcasting bs about what BA supposedly said so he can get other teams to feel sorry/empathize and next year get a new team and get Bucs to pay him off this year, he is not a rich man.
January 6th, 2022 at 2:24 am
In the past I’ve sometimes seen turmoil bring out the best in a team.
January 6th, 2022 at 3:07 am
Actually this could be a smart business decision by AB. He’ll most likely leverage his medical settlement up ~10 mill ski~, and sail off into the sunset richer for it.
BA being 70 will say no mas por favor and retire. Don’t need this cockie poo.
But the real crux here is what does Brady do?
You see, no Brady next year, and we’ll be a 3-13 at this point with that schedule. instead of 12-4. If we’re lucky.
I suppose this is what can happen when one employs a pant load like AB.
But don’t cry for the ownership group. They got to enjoy a superbowl victory, and so did we the fans.
January 6th, 2022 at 4:00 am
Grover was first to predict…Brown v Bucs.
January 6th, 2022 at 4:01 am
Grover also predicted he got needled.
January 6th, 2022 at 4:03 am
When did BA become an athletic trainer? I wasn’t aware that he was. Oh that’s right he’s an old school football coach.
Every NFL athlete knows that you go to the trainers for injury concerns. Part of the risk in signing AB was that there might be an ugly ending….well….here it is.
January 6th, 2022 at 4:19 am
Thing is, Arians never liked AB. He never wanted him here. He brought him in to make Tom happy. After the fake v-card thing, I dont doubt for one second Arians wanted to cut him. He didnt either because he was afraid it would upset Tom or maybe Licht overruled. But I think it’s obvious the relationship turned malignant at that point. And then it all came to a head in the Jets game.
AB handled it bad and wrong. But Arians may have as well. We don’t know what was said in the locker room. He’s an old school coach that doesn’t hold back and doesn’t have a filter. And when you already have a player that has a short fuse, it wouldn’t take much to set it off.
Everyone wants to dismiss AB’s claims outright. But there have been a number of times this season we’ve seen guys go into the game when they shouldn’t been playing. Is it 100% the player making that decision or is there pressure involved?
And people then claim, “what about the trainers? Wouldnt they say AB was hurt?” Are you sure about that? Are they the same trainers who couldnt tell that Gronk had multiple broken ribs and a punctured lung? Those trainers? The ones that claim Shaq’s knee is fine and let him go back into the game when we later found out the ligament is torn? Those trainers? The Bucs medical staff have been under-diagnosing injuries all year. Maybe they are under pressure too. Otherwise they are just incompetent. One or the other. How many times were we told after the game a player’s injury isn’t serious only to find out Tuesday they will be out for several weeks?
January 6th, 2022 at 4:52 am
Here’s the thing about injuries. Everyone that played for a while are dealing with injuries now in week 17. Full cast on some players hands that’s playing right now. What do you want a team to do? Cancel games because the team is too injured to play? Football no matter what level, players are expected to play and give it their best. It always been the case. AB has been in the league for years and played football for even more years. I’m sure he played injured and also know how to get medical attention. He’s not 2 years old and naive. He didn’t just start playing football for the first time ever.
As many has already said, several players either laid on the ground and got medical attention or checked themselves out of games and talked to medical personnel. It’s not like Arians or any coaches said he can’t talk to medical personnel. I can see if AB was denied medical help on the sideline. But, AB never mentioned this at all. Otherwise I see nothing wrong on Arians side according to AB’s own statement.
January 6th, 2022 at 5:07 am
There should be witnesses to this interaction, especially the part where Arians supposedly did the slash neck symbol. Bet Arians wasn’t alone with AB for any length of time on the sideline, if he was then his demeanor would come into question.
Truth bomb: AB was pissed that he was not being targeted more and we were losing. He even unfollowed TB12–his only friend in the world. It hurt to run routes and he didn’t want to injure the ankle more for nothing–his routes were perfect in his mind yet he was not getting targets as they were throwing to Gronk. This makes him crazy–run perfect routes on sore foot for nothing. He will not be able to collect his incentives thanks to this game plan. Then BA talks to him without appreciation–maybe even talks down to him–soon his damaged frontal cortex feels impulsive and he wants attention. Time to throw off the clothes and get some attention. Now he is remorseful and wants to blame Arians and the Bucs so he can get another job next season. He knows the Bucs have him over a barrel and will not release him.
January 6th, 2022 at 5:34 am
It’s all speculation until we get some concrete evidence
January 6th, 2022 at 5:35 am
AB… what a classless work of art. Put him on the inactive list for the rest of the season. We the fans should tune this arse and media out
January 6th, 2022 at 5:35 am
Disgruntled employee having a tantrum. I have fired people before and the pattern is the same. This too shall pass.
January 6th, 2022 at 5:39 am
I was in ABs corner as I hoped he would have a great redemption story. There is nothing redeemable about this cartoon character . Im not reading his bs statement. He had the greatest opportunity of his life with Brady and the Bucs in his corner. He betrayed everyone, coaches, teammates and Bucs fans. He was welcomed with open arms when in truth even I will admit he should’ve been out of the league permanently. There are no redeemable qualities in this guy. Randy Moss, Chris Carter and many others stood at this crossroad and made a conscious decision to cross over. AB decided to lay in the ditch at the crossroad.
January 6th, 2022 at 5:55 am
Spin, spin, spin, and more spin! If you believe this crap for one second, I have some real nice swampland to sell you.
January 6th, 2022 at 6:20 am
Really? I guess some here believe the election was rigged and trump won and 1/6 was just a visitors tour. Dang, we are in deep spit. He went in at halftime, team doctors were there, trainers were there, and if the doc and trainers said he could play. He quit on his team. Good riddance.
January 6th, 2022 at 6:27 am
Wow, some absolutely fascinating late-at-night SPECULATION. And at this point in the drama, it’s ALL pure SPECULATION. IMO, Rod Munch’s theories work just as well as anyone’s (Rod you must be a lawyer), and demonstrate pretty clearly what the coming court-room battles will come down to:
‘Is it not possible that Brown …’
‘Is it not also possible that Arians …’
‘Is it not also possible then that AB …’
Antonio Brown’s time with the Bucs was ALWAYS going to end something like this: Aging super-star sees a chance for one last huge payday … in court; lawyers line up for a piece of the pie. Ankle injury that extends back to early Oct provides the perfect cover.
AB knows full well he was never going to be part of the Bucs plans going forward. He also knows that no other team was probably ever going to take a chance on him given his ‘history’.
Gut feel is that Arians had to swallow a lot of pride just to keep AB on the roster after that fake vax card fiasco, and only did so IMO because of losing Chris Godwin. Other players may ‘worship’ BA as someone above noted, but Antonio Brown’s not one of them. Sad days for the Bucs ahead I fear.
January 6th, 2022 at 6:27 am
Antonio “No Mas” Brown.
He’s a victim. Oppressed. Practically a slave.
Insert cynical emoji here…somebody sign him for a boomin’ next season
January 6th, 2022 at 6:28 am
What’s missing in this post and comments is that AB apparently missed practice on both Thursday and Friday before the game. Don’t tell me that BA and the trainers didn’t know why AB missed practices or that they didn’t know that AB re-tweaked his ankle in the Carolina game the week before. So, since AB missed practices leading up to the Jets game, when was he cleared to play by the Bucs? Did they not check AB before game day and clear him? Or, did he just fly to NYC with the Team, discuss his ankle with the Buc’s trainers, and then acquiesced to the pre-game painkiller jab. Did the jab begin to wear off by halftime or did the pain just become unbearable by the start of the 3rd quarter, and reach a point where AB just knew he could no longer safely play? One thing is sure. EVERYBODY was stressed out and busy through halftime and when the 3rd qyarter began. No chance for a meaningful discussion and maybe AB’s ego kept him from whining about his ankle with the Bucs losing the game. So AB finally realizes it ain’t happening and springs this on BA when he’s told to
January 6th, 2022 at 6:34 am
get in the game. AB says “Can’t do it” without elaborating (whining) and BA tells him again. AB says “Nope” and BA says “You’re done then….Leave!” AB then gets triggered as he feels he’s bring set up as a “quitter” when the “chips were down”. Plus, I’m sure he felt guilty even though he knew his ankle was about to blow. The guilt just added to the frustration and BOOM.
January 6th, 2022 at 6:35 am
It seems his teammates all seem to believe the dude needs some type of help….Brady cited examples of mental health issues with athletes, Suh states a similar perspective. There’s something wrong with the dude beyond his ankle. Frankly at this stage of the season, lots of players are playing through injury. Brady played through a bum knee, JPP through a bum shoulder, Gronk with broken rips….all these guys could say they are/were hurt. That seems to be the issue with Brown, when he doesn’t get his way, he’s hurt. When he’s getting his targets, he’s capable.
If I were to make a guess as to what went down this past week……my guess is AB saw the game plan with an emphasis on getting a “W” and Evans his 1,000 yds….no focus on AB getting his stats for performance bonuses. So suddenly his ankle is injured in hopes of getting the targets/”respect” he deserves. That wasn’t happening and at half time the melt down occurs……followed by more of the “I’m hurt” shenanigans and the eventual walking out. Keep in mind AB feels disrespected because in AB’s mind the Bucs didn’t go to bat for him with the fake vax situation, nor did they pay him and now aren’t concerned with if he gets his bonuses.
At the end of the day, AB NEEDS his ego fueled. He NEEDS to be the exception to everything, he NEEDS to be the focal point, he NEEDS to be valued for his talent above everything else and if that’s no occurring, he melts down. His entire identity is built around his football talents which he believes far outweigh the BS that he comes with.
January 6th, 2022 at 6:40 am
If I were the Bucs, I’d have paid him to make all this moot. Move him to IR or whatever.
Be done.
January 6th, 2022 at 6:49 am
Bobby M – Great post!
January 6th, 2022 at 6:55 am
Since he has had this issue for two months, and it is basically no better, he would have been worthless in the playoffs anyway. So he was basically worthless to our team in any case.
January 6th, 2022 at 7:11 am
Brown has ZERO credibility. NONE. He was lucky to be given one last chance to play and earn a paycheck as an NFL player. But drama and selfish behavior follow him like vultures always circling overhead. He has used up any goodwill he may have earned from last years SuperBowl run. The other 50+ guys on the team do not need the constant distractions of AB’s meltdowns pulling their focus away from the task at hand as the playoffs begin!
Time to move on, get our guys healthy and focused for the playoffs, and put the past in the rear view!
January 6th, 2022 at 7:13 am
Where can anyone go today where life is not in chaos! It is even in the family element these days. Look at the elections. Brown simply takes it to another level. Who can blame who these days, what does it matter anymore. We are a family of beings floating around space far removed from everything and we fight and kill each other in the name of God. We need to find a way to do better.
I love sports as much as anyone but we pay bazillions of dollars yearly to watch our heros beat the crap out of each other for entertainment. The fault in Brown vs the Buccaneers belongs to all of us. How can I blame either AB or the Bucs without blaming myself and all of you first?
January 6th, 2022 at 7:28 am
Since ABs blowup, has he been seen in a boot or receiving treatment for his ankle? Just wondering….
January 6th, 2022 at 7:29 am
If you can do jumping jacks, you can do football.
January 6th, 2022 at 7:34 am
His ankle didn’t seem to bother him while he ran and jumped to the locker room.
January 6th, 2022 at 7:44 am
AB would make a great Democrat politician. He lies out his a$$. Then, if he gets caught he’ll either spin it some other way or apologize.
January 6th, 2022 at 7:54 am
Its a very unfortunate situation. I think Rod Munch’s explanation is probably the closest to the truth (IMO). Unfortunate because whatever you may think about him, he was a straight baller on the field. Absolute confidence in him to get open and make the catch we need. Good thing is….gaining confidence in the next player up mentality. Go Bucs!
January 6th, 2022 at 8:03 am
I’ve been saying the same thing to my wife for the past 30-odd years—“My past does not forfeit my right to be heard when I am in pain.”
January 6th, 2022 at 8:10 am
AB should not be run off the Bucs. Bruce Arians should! There is enough information out there from the reporting of Rick Shroud the BA knew AB was injured and still compelled him to go in the game. Unacceptable! Fire BA, promote Bowles.
January 6th, 2022 at 8:10 am
Rick Stroud
@NFLSTROUD
Text exchange between Antonio Brown and Bruce Arians posted by AB on Instagram. Of course Arians knew Brown was injured. He hadn’t practiced since Wed. The dispute came on the sideline DURING the game after Brown had played the first half. BA said they never talked Post-game.
January 6th, 2022 at 8:14 am
Ok, with all the cameras around, wheres the footage of BA talking to brown and running his finger across his throat mimicking a throat slash? Surely that vid is out there somewhere if it really happened.
January 6th, 2022 at 8:16 am
^ Anyone who believes AB is a JO.
January 6th, 2022 at 8:24 am
The truth? No one here knows.
Usually the truth lies somewhere between the extremes.
This story and distraction isn’t going away.
January 6th, 2022 at 8:34 am
Wow, he didn’t go to practice for two days pregame, they shot him up before the game. Very possible by half-time AB wasn’t feeling right, maybe wanted to shoot him up again and he said F no and went off. BA pissed he wouldn’t take one for the team and the shat hit the fan on the sidelines. If this started in the locker room, sorry but I don’t believe for one minute BA didn’t hear him refuse because of his ankle, we are forgetting the assistants we’re involved as well. You tell a guy like AB you’re done, he takes it to the extreme. As far as jogging and jumping Jack’s, nowhere near the stress you put on your body going full speed in a game. I am not being bias because I am not a BA fan but somethings not quite right. Brown was also forfeiting $1MM in incentives. The rub some dirt on it doesn’t work anymore.
January 6th, 2022 at 8:51 am
They say there are two sides to every story. With AB, I feel like there are at least 5 to 10 stories.
1. He had a hurt ankle and could not make moves on it although, he just did in the 2nd quarter with a three stop move that left the defensive back on his butt.
2. He was playing until Arians told him to stop playing.
3. He was upset that he was not going to reach incentives that game.
4. Arians gave him a cutthroat signal.
5. Bucs did not support him enough during the time of the fake vaccination card.
6. People do not know the truth, he never had a fake vaccination card.
7. He is an athlete, so when he jumps and shows no pain in the end zone as he leave, it means nothing.
8. So he never understood that he was supposed to see trainers during the game, if he felt he was hurt. he thought the only protocol was to talk to the head coach no one else.
9. He will have surgery, but he will not have the Bucs doctors look examine me as required by the CBA.
10. He did not have a crazy outburst in the locker room at halftime.
January 6th, 2022 at 8:58 am
@Listnfrmafar
The only standard injection in the NFL is Toradol.
If AB was in fact given Toradol, it does not have the effects described by AB. It is a NSAID/anti-inflammatory drug similar to ibuprofen/Aleve but stronger and requires a prescription. It is a very frequently prescribed non narcotic pain killer.
It typically lasts 6 hours.
If it lasts shorter time for AB, that would have been known to AB and the team from other times that it has been injected into AB.
I could understand if a guy never wants that medication injected — but he is probably not playing pro football a long time because it is pretty regular in the NFL.
So to me it is another part of AB story that I question.
January 6th, 2022 at 9:06 am
Buc’s snap the ball with 13 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Watch the film.
Tell me that AB could not play at all. Funny also on that play it is AB making the cutthroat signal that he says BA made to him.
January 6th, 2022 at 9:23 am
No wonder BA suddenly has a change of tune the follwoing day of his blow-up. If AB has all this proof….. don’t know how BA can spin those. Stay tuned people….
January 6th, 2022 at 9:40 am
By halftime AB knew he had slim to no chance of making the incentive money and then decided his ankle was too bad to play, so he quit. His responsibility is to go to the trainers and get their diagnosis and they communicate to coach.
Regardless, hard to take the word of one of the most historic malcontents in NFL history over a coach who has proven to be one of the most progressive in building a team and staff.
January 6th, 2022 at 10:05 am
Lou in srq Says:
“Since ABs blowup, has he been seen in a boot or receiving treatment for his ankle?”
.
.
When he was leaving the stadium he was walking fine and standing with weight on both legs. Skinny jeans and tight little boots so obviously no tape job or orthopedic boot.
Since then? I’d bet he’s walking around in a boot splint now just for the cameras.
January 6th, 2022 at 10:06 am
Antonio Brown, enough said
January 6th, 2022 at 10:26 am
The chat about pain meds is interesting..
Like .. if u can take the meds to get thru a game , can you get thru 2 games? Then the playoffs?
A chronic injury with loose ligaments and a bone chip might have progressive pain.. getting worse.
These details are why a player is the best doctor. He knows what it feels like .
That said , why was it not clarified. You see brady chatting him, along side Murphy. What are they saying.. ?
It’s weird BA snaps before trying to clarify what the issues were. But brucee has his own problems.
January 6th, 2022 at 10:36 am
Two Rams 🐏 🐏 going at it and the older wiser one prevailed.
January 6th, 2022 at 11:00 am
Pretty obvious that AB has never done anything AB doesn’t want to do.
He should be really careful, you don’t think for one minute that the league and every team don’t know the legal ramifications of injecting players with anything?
He’s going to find himself in a counter suit against much better and well funded lawyers.
AB is full of $hit, his history proves that.
January 6th, 2022 at 11:04 am
BA COACHES!!! AB PLAYS! THE TEAM DOC DECIDES WHO IS HEALTHY ENOUGH TO PLAY!!!
This is 100% BS. When a player is injured too severely to play and it’s determined in the locker at the half…he doesn’t come out dressed out helmet in hand. He stands on the sideline IF he even returns.
IF a player is injured subsequent to the halftime then they take him to the ever present little folding blue tent on the sidelines to check him out.
Nobody checked out AB. Why? Why was ME13 still trying to get him to stay?
Is the contention of all these negative nellies that ME13 was trying to convince AB to stay and play through pain? Really? ME13 Asked AB to risk his wheels and future and play despite AB’s “better knowledge” of his own body?
Was AB worried about pain or damaging his ankle when he all but cartwheeled out of the stadium with side jumping jacks guaranteed to TEST that ankle.
I wish I knew a way to contact some of you posters…I have a freaking steal on some stock to the Sunshine Skyway.
I’m not suggesting that AB is not making a SMART legal move. I am saying he is totally full of manure!
January 6th, 2022 at 11:40 am
The nail in the coffin is the halftime reporter. Bruce Arians said he’s not worried about Tom Brady’s play…. Also, Mike Evan and Antonio Brown are on a snap count.
It’s about the incentive. Not the freaking ankle. The whole game AB didn’t limp after a route. Nor did he limp to the huddle. He celebrated multiple time by himself and with teammates during the first half. If a non Bucs fan watched that game, then they would never guess AB was hurt.
Stop making excuses for this unprofessional act.
January 6th, 2022 at 11:47 am
This will blow up in ABs face just like every maniacal stupid thing he’s done. Waited 10 weeks for him to come back, nobody forced him back.
Knowing his history the plausible explanation, is he didn’t like BA’s wait and see remarks about his return from suspension. AB should have left it alone. BA was on record as saying one strike and you’re out. BA was trying to ease on through that and keep him on the team.
Once again AB takes a dump on the people trying to keep his career going. Roethlisberger/ Tomlin, Gruden/ Mayock. Now Tb/Arians/Licht.
Now that he’s accusing medical staff of misdeeds, no team is gonna touch this four time loser/ liar.
January 6th, 2022 at 1:54 pm
Rod Munch. Sorry your fantasy conversation between BA and AB didn’t work out for you. Gotta go with BA and Licht over AB when it comes to honesty. Check out the pregame video. While the Team was doing their usually team huddle, where was Mr Misunderstood? At the opposite end of the field, back turned to his teammates, just walking away! All about the $$ with him. Screw the team and guys who tried to help him. This is just further a sign that AB blowing up was a premeditated move on his part. He was pissed and he was going to take his ball and go home. He decided to stay until after half time for the effect of having it covered on national tv. Good riddance to a part time player.
January 6th, 2022 at 7:13 pm
Uncle. Please stop AB articles. He is no longer a Buccaneer. This is just feeding his ego. Ignore him and hopefully he will go away.