Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown (81) gestures to the crowd as he leaves the field while his team's offense is on the field against the New York Jets during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022.
(Picture: AP)Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Antonio Brown stormed off the field in the middle of Sunday's game against the New York Jets - and was immediately cut from the team.
During Sunday’s game, the star tore off his pads, took off his shirt, and stormed off the field in the middle of the match, then threw up a peace sign to fans as he made his way out.
Video of Antonio Brown leaving the field after taking off his jersey and shirt and throw it into the stands. pic.twitter.com/1hwNYei5Fq
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 2, 2022
The bizarre incident occurred during a break in the second-half play with the Jets leading 24-10.
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Before he entered the exit tunnel, he can be seen doing some jumping jacks in the end zone.
One fan captured the moment and shared it on Twitter:
Antonio Brown has a meltdown at the hand of the #Jets and #BraxtonBerrios pic.twitter.com/RGhSYpyrOu
— Miller (@mmmmillah) January 2, 2022
Per Fox Sports, teammates Mike Evans and O.J. Howard attempted to calm down a visibly upset Brown.
After the game, fans had many questions as to what exactly just happened and it wasn't clear what prompted the spectacle.
However, Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians didn’t sugarcoat his words when it came to Brown’s status with the team while speaking to press.
Here’s @BruceArians stating the obvious on Antonio Brown. pic.twitter.com/tLg6Q4om8w
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) January 2, 2022
"He is no longer a Buc," Arians said. adding: “That's the end of the story. Let's talk about the guys that went out there and won the game."
Fox Sports reporter Jay Glazer reports that Arians told him that he asked Brown to re-enter the game and he refused.
“Just talked to Bruce Arians who said he was trying to get AB to go into game & AB refused. Tried again Brown refused & Arians told him to get out. On if he saw AB take his jersey off. ‘Yeah, I did. Never seen anything like it in all my years,’” Glazer tweeted.
Just talked to Bruce Arians who said he was trying to get AB to go into game & AB refused. Tried again Brown refused & Arians told him to get out. On if he saw AB take his jersey off.
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) January 2, 2022
“Yeah, I did. Never seen anything like it in all my years.” @NFLonFOX
Brown not only lost his job but as it turns out, he also missed out on a potential $1 million.
According to Michael Ginnitti at Spotrac, Brown was very close to receiving three bonuses that would have added about an extra million to his bank account.
Antonio Brown needed:
— Spotrac (@spotrac) January 2, 2022
8 more catches to unlock a $333,333 bonus.
He also needed 55 receiving yards to unlock another $333,333 bonus.
He also needed just 1 receiving TD to unlock another $333,333 bonus.
This was a costly outburst.
After the game, Tom Brady urged everyone to be “compassionate and empathetic toward some very difficult things that are happening” when asked about Brown.
🗣️ @TomBrady on Antonio Brown pic.twitter.com/ONMpLoYWyV
— xz - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 2, 2022
Brown has a history of problematic behavior.
This was his second game back from a three-game suspension after he violated the NFL's Covid-19 protocols when he was accused of obtaining a fake vaccine card.
Moreover, Brown was signed to the Bucs in 2020 in the wake of an eight-game NFL ban following multiple allegations of rape and sexual misconduct.
