Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown had a rough week at the start of 2022. After a contentious couple of months with the Bucs, Brown finally had enough and ran off the field, giving a “peace out” sign. This infuriated Bucs leadership, who promptly fired him on the spot. Many others on social media expressed anger and disappointment at Brown with some blaming him for his situation. Many allegations came out from supporters of Brown towards Bucs management. Tom Brady has also come under fire from Brown himself for his comments about Brown’s decisions. Brown has multiple sexual harassment allegations against him and got caught with a fake COVID-19 vaccination card. There has been a lot of speculation about Brown’s mental state, many have speculated that he has developed CTE. It’s a messy situation.
What no one seems to be too concerned about is if Antonio Brown is actually happy with the decisions he has made. Even though Brown’s future in the NFL seems very shaky and uncertain, he seems happier than he was in the Bucs. He has been seen at NBA games and doing interviews on podcasts. If Brown wants to go, then the Bucs made the right decision by letting him go.
What is yet to be seen is if Brown’s attorney’s allegations made against the team are true or not. Brown’s attorney has alleged that the Bucs’ medical appointment that was scheduled for Brown was used unfairly as a reason for his termination. If they are true or not does not seem to change the fact that Brown’s relationship with the team was becoming difficult and transgressive for both parties. It seems that his departure might be the best thing for Brown. With so much speculation that he has CTE, which is fatal, it is important that he gets the help that he needs and is not under pressure to perform. Sometimes that is exactly what a team needs, in sports or not. Teams need chemistry together and if there is an incident where that is broken to the point where it seems irreparable, it may be best to simply sever ties rather than force players or management to change to fit a mold. This is made even more difficult if there is speculation that the player is unwell and not receiving the proper help. There may be many altercations like this, not only in the NFL but in all sports leagues and divisions. Some get covered by the media, like Brown, but others may fly under the radar or solve themselves.
What is for sure is that there is more to Antonio Brown’s story than meets the eye. It is still yet to be seen if Brown or the Bucs are hiding details. Ultimately, however, it seems that his removal from the team will shine a light on the alleged ignorance of the NFL towards players who require mental help.
