It appears the Antonio Brown sideshow finally became too much for the New England Patriots. After “intimidating” texts sent from Brown were released to the public and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walked out of a press conference refusing to talk about it, the writing was on the wall. Specifically, Brown’s Twitter wall as he was one of the first to announce the team had hit the ejector button and fired him over the wall.
Thanks for the opportunity appreciate @Patriots pic.twitter.com/envfHEd6N8
— AB (@AB84) September 20, 2019
Yep, the Patriots have decided to eat $10 million after one game and cut the troubled star receiver, who just can’t stop being in the news for all the wrong reasons.
The Patriots have released WR Antonio Brown. pic.twitter.com/X8MXS2dbAN
— NFL (@NFL) September 20, 2019
The texts were sent to Brown’s second accuser, a painter who has accused him of sexual misconduct. In them, he apparently threatens to dig up information on her background. The NFL is reportedly investigating the texts.
New tonight: Antonio Brown sent our source from Monday’s story menacing group text messages, including a picture of her children with instructions for his associates to investigate her.
Her lawyer wrote the NFL calling for the intimidation to stop. https://t.co/rCTM8WSI6Z pic.twitter.com/QtONzBf7Ig
— robertklemko (@RobertKlemko) September 20, 2019
If there’s any question about whether A.B. sent these texts, Ian Rapoport put that to rest on air with the NFL Network today.
From NFL Now: The latest in the situation surrounding #Patriots WR Antonio Brown, following text messages reported by @RobertKlemko. pic.twitter.com/Jw2J6gP40p
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 20, 2019
It’s obvious that the circus, and repeated trouble, Brown was causing New England was too much to bear. It’s also obvious that a serious ban is coming from the league, if they even have to at this point. Any general manager that would sign Brown after all this should be fired on the spot.
H/T TMZ, NFL.com, Sports Illustrated, CBS 2 Pittsburgh