Bucs’ Antonio Brown Goes AWOL vs. Jets
During the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stunning 28-24 victory over the New York Jets, Bucs wide receiver Antonio Brown went AWOL on Tampa Bay during the third quarter with the Bucs trailing 24-10.
With 3:02 to go in the third quarter, a shirtless Brown is seeing dancing and gesturing towards the fans in the south end zone before darting up the tunnel to the visitors locker room. This all happened as play was going on.
Was Brown hurt? Was he tossed from the game by the officials? Was there a fight on the sideline?
It was so confusing at first.
Later in the telecast, FOX Sports showed Brown ripping off his jersey and shoulder pads, before making his way down the visitors sideline. He then saw some fans in the stands, ripped his undershirt off and tossed it into the crowd before running around the end zone toward the tunnel.
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
When asked about bizarre behavior, Bucs Head Coach Bruce Arians said that Brown was “no longer a Buc” and refused to answer any more questions about it.
Here's the video of Bruce Arians making the Antonio Brown news official: “He is no longer a Buc. That's the end of the story. Let's talk about the guys who went out there and won the game."pic.twitter.com/fVBlytElt0
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 2, 2022
According to Fox Sports reporter Jennifer Hale, receivers Mike Brown and O.J. Howard tried to calm Brown down, but to no avail.
.@JenHale504 breaks down the full situation surrounding Antonio Brown in what is now his final game with the Buccaneers. pic.twitter.com/QOqWGYzDGc
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 2, 2022
ESPN reported that Brown had “quit.” He did not fly on the team charter. A Tweet was later posted of the troubled NFL star waiting for an Uber outside MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
In case anyone is wondering what Antonio Brown is doing right now [@freegjr]pic.twitter.com/GwQiYAz0St
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 2, 2022
“Arians told Fox Sports after the game that he was trying to get Brown to go into the game, and Brown refused, twice, as Arians told him to “get out.” Arians added to Fox Sports regarding Brown’s taking off his equipment: “‘Never seen anything like that in all my years.’
Arians added to ESPN that he “‘didn’t know why” Brown didn’t want to go in. When asked if Brown’s ankle may have played a role in his refusal to play — he was officially questionable for the game due to the injury — Arians said, “No.'” (Jenna Laine, ESPN).
Brown has had a history of troublesome behavior both on and off the field.
In 2018 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brown got into a fight with quarterback Ben Roethlisburger, and later requested a trade.
In 2019, after getting dealt to the Oakland Raiders, Brown was unhappy that the type of helmet he used to wear in Pittsburgh was banned by the league. He later got into a verbal altercation with GM Mike Mayock. After the Raiders dumped him, Brown wound up with the New England Patriots, but his stay was short after allegations of sexual misconduct came up. Brown was quickly cut before Week 2.
This year, Brown got into hot water with the NFL over a fraudulent COVID-vaccine card and was suspended three games.
