Antonio Brown’s New England Patriots tenure is finished.
The wide receiver was released by the team Friday as allegations of improper conduct surrounding a sexual assault charge continued to grow.
“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 thanked the Patriots via social media for the opportunity to play for them.
Thank you for the opportunity @Patriots #GoWinIt
— AB (@AB84) September 20, 2019
Brown ultimately played in one game for New England, catching four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. He landed there after a troubled preseason in Oakland, where he quickly fell out with management. Shortly after joining the Patriots on a one-year deal worth up to $15 million, a former trainer filed a lawsuit against Brown alleging three instances of sexual assault. Whether the Patriots knew of the pending suit when signing him remains the subject of some speculation.
The last straw for New England may have been a series of messages harassing a second accuser, which the league confirmed Friday were sent by Brown. The messages, combined with mounting allegations of sexual assault, made Brown’s position with the Patriots untenable. It’s highly unlikely that anyone else picks the 31-year-old up now.
