Buccaneers officially release Brown
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially cut wide receiver Antonio Brown on Thursday, the club announced.
"The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have terminated the contract of Antonio Brown, effective immediately," the team said in a statement.
"While Antonio did receive treatment on his ankle and was listed on the injury report the week leading up to last Sunday's game, he was cleared to play by our medical team prior to the start of the game and at no point during the game did he indicate to our medical personnel that he could not play.
"We have attempted, multiple times throughout this week, to schedule an evaluation by an outside orthopedic specialist, yet Antonio has not complied. Maintaining the health and wellness of our players is of the utmost importance to our organization."
Brown will be subject to waivers, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
After the veteran pass-catcher walked off the field midgame during Sunday's win over the New York Jets, head coach Bruce Arians said Brown was no longer a part of the team.
Brown accused the Buccaneers of pressuring him to play through the injury in a statement Wednesday.
"I didn't quit. I was cut," said Brown. "I didn't walk away from my brothers. I was thrown out."
The wideout said a privately scheduled MRI on Monday revealed broken bone fragments, a ligament torn from the bone, and cartilage loss and added he's going to need ankle surgery.
However, general manager Jason Licht told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Brown didn't inform any of Tampa Bay's medical staff that his ankle was troubling him before or during the Week 17 matchup.
Licht added that the Bucs made two doctor's appointments in New York for Brown so they could place him on injured reserve and pay him for the remainder of the year, but he missed both consultations.
The GM also asserted that last week, Brown and his agent requested the remaining $2 million in incentives in his contract for this season be guaranteed.
Arians said in a press conference Thursday that an agitated Brown needed others to calm him down during halftime after he received fewer targets than expected.
The head coach said Brown then refused to re-enter the game when called upon. Arians said he told Brown to "get the f--- outta here" after the wideout said he wasn't going to play because he wasn't getting the ball.
The 33-year-old required eight more catches, 55 more receiving yards, and one more touchdown to unlock three incentives of $333,000 apiece.
Brown went on a social media tirade Thursday morning, including posting screenshots of what he said were texts with Arians regarding his ankle injury.