Antonio Brown breaks silence on leaving Buccaneers, accuses team of cover-up regarding injured ankle

Antonio Brown has damaged his silence. In a lengthy statement by way of his lawyer Sean Burstyn, the veteran extensive receiver defined his aspect of the state of affairs that unfolded on Sunday the place he departed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sideline within the midst of their matchup in opposition to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. 

Brown is alleging that the group is partaking an ongoing “cover-up” surrounding his injured ankle. He famous within the assertion that an MRI on his ankle revealed “damaged bone fragments caught in my ankle, the ligament torn from the bone, and cartilage loss, that are past painful.” He’s additionally set to bear surgical procedure on that ankle. 

Prior stories highlighted this damage as the principle catalyst for Brown’s outburst on the sideline and subsequent departure from the group in the course of the sport. Brown reportedly acquired right into a spat with head coach Bruce Arians as he tried to get him into the sport he the receiver refused. As soon as he refused to enter the sport upon one other request from Arians, the coach is alleged to have informed him to “get out.” 

Brown highlighted this example in his full assertion through his lawyer, which you’ll learn in its entirety under: 

To begin with, I might like to specific my gratitude to the Bucs, followers, and my teammates. The Bucs helped me return to productive soccer after I had difficulties that might have ended my profession. We labored collectively to resolve these difficulties, and I’ll all the time recognize that. Being a part of a Tremendous Bowl champion group after which a contender is a dream come true. 

I make errors. I am engaged on myself and I’ve optimistic influences round me. However one factor I do not do is draw back from taking part in exhausting on the sector. Nobody can accuse me of not giving it my all each play. 

Due to my dedication to the sport, I relented to strain instantly from my coach to play injured. Regardless of the ache, I suited up, the employees injected me with what I now know was a robust and typically harmful painkiller that the NFLPA has warned in opposition to utilizing, and I gave it my all for the group. I performed till it was clear that I couldn’t use my ankle to securely carry out my taking part in duties. On prime of that, the ache was excessive. I took a seat on the sideline and my coach got here as much as me, very upset, and shouted, “What’s unsuitable with you? What’s unsuitable with you?” I informed him, “It is my ankle.” However he knew that. It was well-documented and We had mentioned it. He then ordered me to get on the sector. I stated, “Coach, I am unable to.” He did not name for medical consideration. As an alternative, he shouted at me, “YOU’RE DONE!” whereas he ran his finger throughout his throat. Coach was telling me that if I did not play harm, then I used to be executed with the Bucs. 

I did not give up. I used to be lower. I did not stroll away from my brothers. I used to be thrown out. Being fired on the sideline for having a painful damage was dangerous sufficient. Then got here their “spin.” Coach denied on nationwide tv that he knew about my ankle. That is 100% inaccurate. Not solely did he know I missed a number of video games with the damage, he and I exchanged texts days earlier than the sport the place he clearly acknowledged my damage. He clearly knew I used to be on the damage record. And the GM acknowledged after the sport in textual content messages to my camp that I did inform coach about my ankle ache on Sunday. 

I do know we have been dropping to the Jets and that was irritating for all of us. However I couldn’t make soccer performs on that ankle. Sure, I
walked off the sector. However there is a main distinction between launching from the road and taking hits, in comparison with jogging off the sector with a rush of feelings going by way of your thoughts. I’m reflecting on my response, however there was a set off. The set off was somebody telling me that I am not allowed to really feel ache. I acknowledge my previous. However my previous doesn’t make me a second class citizen. My previous doesn’t forfeit my proper to be heard when I’m in ache. 

First they lower me. Now they cage me. As an alternative of asking how I felt or attending to the underside of it, the group texted my camp selling a completely false narrative that I randomly acted out with none rationalization. They even informed us in writing “do not spin this” every other manner. I’ve stress, I’ve issues I have to work on. However the worst a part of this has been the Bucs’ repeated effort to painting this as a random outburst. They’re telling those who first I walked off, then I used to be lower. No. No. No. I used to be lower first after which I went dwelling. They threw me out like an animal and I refused to put on their model on my physique, so I took my jersey off. 

As a part of their ongoing cover-up, they’re performing like I wasn’t lower and now demanding that I see a physician of their alternative to look at my ankle. What they didn’t know till now’s that on Monday morning I had an pressing MRI on my ankle. It exhibits damaged bone fragments caught in my ankle, the ligament torn from the bone, and cartilage loss, that are past painful. You may see the bone bulging from the surface. However that should and will be repaired. The MRI has been learn by two prime orthopedic surgeons in NYC, together with Dr. Martin O’Malley at Hospital for Particular Surgical procedure. Not realizing that I had already scheduled a surgical procedure at HSS, the Bucs “ordered” me underneath penalty of self-discipline and with a couple of hours’ discover to point out as much as a extra junior physician at HSS for one more opinion. What a joke. They’re taking part in like I wasn’t lower, giving me a shock assault “order” to point out as much as one other physician with no affordable discover, and setting this complete factor up as a foundation to chop me as a result of what they did on Sunday was not reputable. Sorry, GM. I already obtained a confirming opinion from the High Doc on the hospital you “ordered” me to go to. 

I like the Bucs followers. I actually do. I like my teammates and everybody who confirmed me grace and believed in me. I gave the Bucs all the pieces I had on the sector. What the group is doing now must get cleaned up. I don’t perceive how folks publicly claiming to be involved about my psychological well being can do these items to me in non-public. 

As soon as my surgical procedure is full, I will be again to 100% and looking out ahead to subsequent season. Enterprise gonna be BOOMIN!

At across the similar time Brown’s assertion was launched, Burstyn took to social media and wrote a Twitter thread additional condemning the Buccaneers for his or her alleged actions towards his consumer. 

“Why would they embark on a marketing campaign of false concealment?” Burstyn wrote, in part. “To keep away from accountability for ignoring the danger of great damage for the sake of successful a recreation.”

It needs to be famous that Arians was requested on Monday if there have been any points on the group’s aspect concerning the dealing with of Brown’s ankle damage and rehab. To that query, he answered: “None by any means. He was cleared to play final week [and] performed [well]. And [he was] cleared to play this week.”

Brown remains to be technically on Tampa Bay’s roster though Arians did announce instantly following the sport that he’s “now not a Buc.” The group is reportedly working with the NFL to find out the following steps to solidify his looming departure.