Brown walks away from Bucs; Brady rallies team past Jets

Antonio Brown is booted from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after ripping off his shirt and running off the field during bizarre mid-game meltdown: Tom Brady asks fans to be ‘compassionate’ following the Bucs’ win over the Jets

• Coach Bruce Arians said after the game that Brown was off the team 
• Brown’s mid-game meltdown came late in the third quarter with Tampa Bay trailing 24-10 
• He appeared animated while talking to teammate Mike Evans when he stripped off his pads, jersey, gloves and T-shirt
• Brown then tossed the gloves and T-shirt into the stands and then walked bare-chested down the sideline and into the end zone 
• Tom Brady led the Buccaneers to a last-minute comeback to beat the New York Jets 27-24, keeping them in the hunt for the first seed in the NFC Playoff picture 

Antonio Brown was kicked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a bizarre, shirtless exit from the field before Tom Brady coolly led the Bucs on a 93-yard drive in the final minutes for a 28-24 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.

Coach Bruce Arians said after the game that Brown was off the team.

‘He is no longer a Buc,’ Arians said.

Brown’s mid-game meltdown came late in the third quarter with Tampa Bay trailing 24-10. 

He appeared animated while talking to teammate Mike Evans when he stripped off his pads, jersey, gloves and T-shirt – tossing the gloves and T-shirt into the stands – and then walked bare-chested down the sideline and into the end zone. He then waved to fans as jogged through the end zone and into the tunnel at MetLife Stadium. 

Antonio Brown was kicked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a bizarre, shirtless exit from the field

Coach Bruce Arians said after the game that Brown was off the team. ‘He is no longer a Buc,’ Arians said

He appeared animated while talking to teammate Mike Evans when he stripped off his pads, jersey, gloves and T-shirt – tossing the gloves and T-shirt into the stands – and then walked bare-chested down the sideline and into the end zone

New York Jets’ Bryce Hall, left, tackles Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Antonio Brown during the first half of Sunday’s Buccaneers-Jets game

Brown tweeted out a photo of himself without Bucs gear but fully dressed following the game with only the caption: ‘super-gremlin.’ 

Chris Myers, who commentates on the game for Fox Sports, tweeted that he saw Brown being escorted from the stadium in a police car.  

After the game, Brady asked fans to be ‘compassionate’ toward Brown and said he wasn’t aware of what was happening while it was happening and didn’t find out until the game ended. 

‘Obviously a difficult situation,’ added Brady. ‘We all love him.’ 

It appeared to be a show of frustration by Brown, who had three catches for 26 yards.

Brown was suspended last month for three games for violating the league´s COVID-19 protocols. He also has a history of personal conduct issues and bizarre behavior. 

‘Obviously a difficult situation,’ added Brady of his now former teammate Brown. ‘We all love him’

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, left, throws during the first half against the New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, left, celebrates with Mike Evans after Evans scored a touchdown

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Mike Evans, left, celebrates his touchdown with Antonio Brown before Brown left the game

According to Sportrac, which tracks NFL player salaries, Brown’s outburst was costly.

Brown was eight catches, 55 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown away from garnering $999,999 in total bonuses. With a game-plus left in the season, he looked to be cruising toward those targets.

A report on the NFL website said that Brown was angry at being benched by Arians.

Brown’s brilliance as a pass catcher has been offset by a string of incidents away from the field.

Earlier this season Brown was hit with a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols having misrepresented his vaccination status.

The seven-times Pro Bowl receiver was sentenced to two years probation in June 2020 after he pleaded no contest to charges of assault and burglary.

He was released by the New England Patriots after one game in 2019 following allegations of sexual misconduct and sending intimidating text messages. Brown settled the civil dispute in April last year. The terms were not disclosed.

New England had acquired Brown after he was released by the then-Oakland Raiders before he played in a game due to multiple controversies.

Brown spent the first nine years of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers before his one game with New England and the last two seasons in Tampa.

Brady marched the Buccaneers (12-4) down the field on nine plays, zipping a pass to Grayson – who was elevated from the practice squad – for the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter. 

It was Brady´s third TD pass of the game and 40th of the season, joining him with Drew Brees as the only players to throw for 40 touchdowns in consecutive seasons.

Brady, who improved to 31-8 against the Jets, also tied Green Bay´s Aaron Rodgers as the only players with three seasons of 40 or more TD passes. 

Antonio Brown’s troubled timeline 

October 9, 2018: Brown sued after allegedly throwing items from inside a South Florida apartment and off a balcony, nearly hitting a 2-year-old boy

November 8, 2018: Brown cited for speeding at over 100 mph in Pittsburgh while still with the Steelers. He is found guilty and fined for reckless driving

September 10, 2019: Brown’s former trainer, Britney Taylor, filed a lawsuit alleging he sexually assaulted her on three occasions. Brown – now a New England Patriot – and his legal team denied the allegations 

September 16, 2019: A second woman, a physician, accuses Brown of sexual misconduct. Brown and the alleged victim settled in 2021

January 13, 2020: After having to come to his house for several domestic incidents, the Hollywood, Florida police discontinues their relationship with Brown and their youth football league

January 23, 2020: Brown pleads no contest after he and an accomplice had attacked a moving truck driver at the home. He receives community service, psychological counseling and anger management

December 2, 2021: Brown is suspended three games by the NFL for misrepresenting his COVID-19 vaccination status 

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