Patriots Release WR Antonio Brown

The New England Patriots have to release WR Antonio Brown on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport. 

The Patriots have already confirmed the news: 

“The New England Patriots are releasing Antonio Brown. We appreciate the hard work of many people over the past 11 days, but we feel that it is best to move in a different direction at this time.”

Brown posted the following on his Twitter account Friday:

Thank you for the opportunity @Patriots #GoWinIt

— AB (@AB84) September 20, 2019

Thanks for the opportunity appreciate @Patriots pic.twitter.com/envfHEd6N8

— AB (@AB84) September 20, 2019

This comes less than 24 hours after the report that Brown had sent harassing text messages to the unnamed accuser who recently shared allegations of Brown’s behavior after she was hired by him to paint a mural at his house.

The situation between the Patriots and Brown was clearly headed to a breaking point and it appears as though the team ultimately decided to move on now. In total, Brown lasted 11 days in New England. 

It’s worth mentioning that the Patriots released Brown before they owed him a $5 million signing bonus payment on Monday, which sets up the possibility for Brown to file a grievance or challenge it in court, according to Ben Volin. 

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. However, Oakland made the decision to release Brown on Saturday, making him an unrestricted free agent and he later signed a one-year deal worth up to $15 million with the Patriots. 

In 2019, Brown appeared in one game for the Patriots and caught four passes for 56 yards receiving and one touchdown.