Antonio Brown's infamous departure from the Buccaneers during the 2022 game against the Jets has a new explanation, according to the free-agent wide receiver. In a recent appearance on Tyreek Hill's podcast, "It Needed To Be Said," Brown pointed fingers at his former teammate, Tom Brady, suggesting a promise of numerous targets influenced his decision to play despite injury.
Brown claimed he informed Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians of his injury and the need to rest to be in top form for the Super Bowl run. However, he alleges Arians dismissed his concerns. Brown further stated that Brady then contacted him, assuring him of significant playing time and a high number of targets against the Jets, enticing him to play through the pain. Despite this, Brown only received five targets, catching three passes for 26 yards.
Feeling misled and frustrated, Brown explained that the lack of promised targets fueled his outburst and subsequent exit from the field. He expressed no direct animosity towards Brady, but implied a sense of betrayal over being encouraged to play while injured.
Brown recounted feeling like the Buccaneers treated him poorly. He also revisited his previous claims of being pressured to play while injured, suggesting the team prioritized winning over his well-being. The Buccaneers officially released Brown four days after the incident.
