Breaking: Patriots Drop Antonio Brown

By Joe Setyon September 20, 2019 at 1:36pm

The New England Patriots have released wide receiver Antonio Brown, the team announced Friday.

Patriots released Antonio Brown. His stay in New England lasted one game.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 20, 2019

“The New England Patriots are releasing Antonio Brown,” the team said in a statement posted to Twitter.

“We appreciate the hard work of many people over the past 11 days, but we feel that it is best to move in a different direction at this time.”

Statement from a #Patriots spokesperson: https://t.co/c98rNDX9QG pic.twitter.com/DAohupBLHo

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 20, 2019

Brown was cut by the Patriots less than two weeks after signing a one-year deal worth up to $15 million, with a $9 million signing bonus and $1 million guaranteed.

NESN reported the team owed the wide receiver a $5 million signing bonus payment Monday.

Do you think another team will sign Brown?

Brown was signed by New England after being cut by the Oakland Raiders, who were engaged in an at-times passive-aggressive, at-times all-out toxic relationship with the star receiver after trading for him during the offseason.

But after the Patriots signed him, Brown was accused in a civil lawsuit of sexual assault and rape.

He ended up playing in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins, catching four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.

Then on Monday, Brown was accused by another woman of hitting on her while he was naked and she was painting a mural at his home.

The woman further said that two days after her original allegations were published Monday in Sports Illustrated, the wide receiver sent her menacing text messages.

That may have been the final straw for the Patriots.

Brown, for his part, appears to be taking his release from the team in stride, tweeting a series of statements thanking the Patriots.

Thank you for the opportunity @Patriots #GoWinIt

— AB (@AB84) September 20, 2019

pic.twitter.com/Hb4G7K1GEY

— AB (@AB84) September 20, 2019

Thanks for the opportunity appreciate @Patriots pic.twitter.com/envfHEd6N8

— AB (@AB84) September 20, 2019

“If I’m lying then I’m flying “ pic.twitter.com/tHzQhn2qz4

— AB (@AB84) September 20, 2019

Thank you pic.twitter.com/CBXWTfajFy

— AB (@AB84) September 20, 2019

The marathon continues

— AB (@AB84) September 20, 2019

“The marathon continues,” he wrote.

Submit a Correction →

We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:

Football, Just In, New England Patriots, NFL, Sexual assault, Sports

Joe Setyon

Deputy Managing Editor, Editorial

SummaryMore Biographical InformationRecent PostsContact

Joe Setyon was a deputy managing editor for The Western Journal who had spent his entire professional career in editing and reporting. He previously worked in Washington, D.C., as an assistant editor/reporter for Reason magazine.

@JoeSetyon

Joe Setyon was deputy managing editor for The Western Journal with several years of copy editing and reporting experience. He graduated with a degree in communication studies from Grove City College, where he served as managing editor of the student-run newspaper. Joe previously worked as an assistant editor/reporter for Reason magazine, a libertarian publication in Washington, D.C., where he covered politics and wrote about government waste and abuse.

Birthplace

Brooklyn, New York

Topics of Expertise

Sports, Politics