Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Antonio Brown did not last two weeks as a Patriot.
The star wideout and growing headcase is again a free agent, 11 days after going from Oakland to New England and five days after playing his first and only game with the Patriots. The same team that has become a refuge for so many who seek a cleaner image could no longer put up with housing a player accused of incidents ranging from rape to unwanted sexual behavior from multiple women.
“The New England Patriots are releasing Antonio Brown,” the team said in a statement. “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.”
Brown, in multiple tweets, showed uncharacteristic restraint.
“Thank you for the opportunity @Patriots #GoWinIt,” Brown wrote in one message.
The Raiders stuck with Brown through a cryogenically frozen foot, a helmet war, several missed practices, a blowup at their GM over the fines for those missed practices and a secretly shot hype video that featured coach Jon Gruden’s voice over the phone. After the Patriots signed Brown, a former trainer of his accused him of rape and sexual assault. Still, New England stood by him. Earlier this week, an artist alleged, in an SI.com story, that in 2017 he made unwanted sexual advances on her. When she rejected him, he never paid for the art he had commissioned, she said. Still, New England stuck by him.
The breaking point appears to be Brown’s further contact with the artist, as reported by SI.com, in which he threatens her because she spoke publicly.
