Antonio Brown: “Release Me @Raiders”

Update:

Adam Schefter reports that that the Raiders have voided the $29.125 million worth of guaranteed money in Antonio Brown’s contract by fining him $215,073.53 last night for conduct detrimental to the team on Sept. 4.

• Schefter adds that the Raiders sent Brown a letter that he no longer will be entitled to termination pay if they release him.
• Jeff Darlington says he’s received an email from Brown in which he says the Raiders “took away my guarantees.” Brown added there’s “no way I play after they took that and made my contract week to week.”
• A Raiders’ source tells Dianna Russini that “we all see the post but you won’t believe me when I tell you that everyone is just working. We are operating like he is playing.”
• David Carr says he’s spoken with his brother, Derek Carr, who said he’s trying to wrap his brain around what’s happening with Brown: “They have no choice but to move on and get ready to play the Broncos as if he’s not on the team.” (Tom Pelissero)
• According to David, Derek Carr is closer to Brown than anyone on the team and spent more time with him this offseason than anyone in his career and even he couldn’t get Brown on the phone the other day. (Tom Pelissero)

On Saturday, Antonio Brown posted another update via his Instagram account and asked for his release from the Raiders. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And that’s fine ! I have worked my whole life to prove that the system is blind to see talent like mines.Now that everyone sees it, they want me to conform to that same system that has failed me all those years. “I’m not mad at anyone. I’m just asking for the freedom to prove them all wrong.” Release me @raiders #NOMore #theyputblindersonahorseforareason #NoMoreFake

A post shared by Boomin (@ab) on Sep 7, 2019 at 6:02am PDT

Last night, Brown posted a video on Youtube of a taped conversation between him and HC Jon Gruden. A Raiders’ source later told Chris Mortensen that Gruden was truly amused by the video and thinks it was “awesome.”

According to Ed Werder of ESPN, the Raiders have fined WR Antonio Brown an unspecified amount for the incident involving GM Mike Mayock.

“He’s been fined and he’s not happy,” a source tells Werder.

Gruden announced before Friday’s practice that Brown was back with the team and the plan is for him to play on Monday night against the Broncos.

“That’s the plan,” Gruden said. “That’s the plan, yes.”

“Antonio is back today. We’re really excited about that. Ready to move on. He’s had a lot of, obviously, time to think about things. We’re happy to have him back and I know Raider Nation is excited about that, too.”

Brown, 31, is a former sixth-round pick of the Steelers back in 2010. He was in the third year of his five-year, $72.71 million contract when the Steelers traded him to the Raiders back in March. 

The Raiders later signed Brown to a new contract worth $50.125 million and includes $30.125 million guaranteed.  

In 2018, Brown appeared in 15 games for the Steelers and caught 104 passes for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 26 receiver out of 117 qualifying players.