The drama surrounding former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has somehow escalated on the eve of the Oakland Raiders’ season.
Brown, who was reportedly facing a suspension after a mid-week altercation with general manager Mike Mayock, asked for and has received his release from the team.
The contentious relationship between Brown and the Raiders began to escalate on Wednesday, when he made an Instagram post detailing fines he accumulated for missing Oakland practices and walk-throughs.
Brown and Mayock then had to be separated after a verbal altercation on Thursday in which Brown reportedly threatened the Raiders’ general manager. Brown was set to be suspended after that incident.
Friday, Brown posted a video of Instagram that included a recorded conversation between him and head coach John Gruden, with Gruden asking Brown if he wanted to remain with the team.
Saturday, then Raiders fined Brown over $215,000 for the incident with Mayock and voided his contract guarantees for conduct detriment to the team.
Brown the asked for his release in a post on Instagram and was subsequently granted that release. The fate of his over $29 million in bonuses will now be decided by an arbitrator. As a veteran, he does not have to clear waivers and is now a free agent. Agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN that he is looking for a “new beginning” elsewhere. He is not eligible to play until Week 2.