Brown removed his shoulder pads and jersey, ran across the end zone and headed to Tampa Bay’s locker room midway through Sunday’s game against the New York Jets; head coach Bruce Arians said after the game that Brown “is no longer a Buc.”
Last Updated: 03/01/22 5:33pm
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown leaves the field after taking off his jersey and throwing it into the stands.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown refused to re-enter the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ game against the New York Jets because he felt he was not healthy enough to play, according to US reports.
NFL Network reported on Monday that a disagreement with coaches led to Brown’s abrupt second-half departure from Tampa Bay’s dramatic 28-24 victory on Sunday in New Jersey.
Bucs coach Bruce Arians told Fox Sports that Brown refused his request to re-enter the game in the second half. Brown, instead, removed his jersey and shoulder pads and eventually ran shirtless off the field.
MetLife Stadium security told ESPN that initially they thought Brown was a fan who had jumped on the field.
Arians said after the win that Brown is “no longer a Buc”. Brown, 33, did not fly home with the team.
Brown did not practise on Thursday or Friday due to his ankle injury. The Athletic reported that Brown had tweaked his ankle in practice earlier last week and was a game-time decision on Sunday.
Brown had just returned on December 26, after having been out since mid-October with the ankle injury and a three-game suspension for misrepresenting his Covid-19 vaccination status.
Brown had 1,028 yards and eight touchdowns in two seasons with the Bucs. He had three catches for 26 yards before departing Sunday’s game.
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Bruce Arians refused to discuss Brown’s public walk-off in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ press conference claiming ‘he is no longer a Buc’.
The seven-time Pro Bowl selection took to Instagram after the game to thank the Buccaneers for the opportunity and also released a rap song.
Reacting to Brown’s dramatic exit, Sky Sports NFL‘s Neil Reynolds said in the studio: “I’ve covered this sport for enough years and never seen anything like that. Incredible.
“Six days ago he [Brown] told the media, ‘you guys are all about drama, I’m all about football’, but you might want to flip that round.
“Tom Brady must be furious. He has gone to bat for Brown, he’s had him live in his house. The public nature of this is going to embarrass Brady, Bruce Arians and the entire Bucs organisation.”