We’re only one game – not one week, one game – into the NFL season and it’s already clear that Mike Tomlin deserves to be named Coach of the Year for having dealt successfully with Antonio Brown for nine years. This may actually be a more impressive coaching feat than Bill Belichick’s six Super Bowl victories, given that even a Super Bowl-winning coach like Jon Gruden couldn’t keep him in check for nine weeks.
Antonio Brown asked the Raiders to release him in an Instagram post shared Saturday morning.
The request comes shortly after news broke that Oakland had fined Brown $215,073.53 on Friday night for conduct detrimental to the team on Sept. 4, which Raiders voided the $29.125 million worth of guaranteed money in his deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. In addition to fining Brown for conduct and voiding the guaranteed money in his contract, the Raiders reportedly sent Brown a letter stating that he no longer will be entitled to termination pay if they release him.
Antonio Brown actually makes Terrell Owens look reasonable in retrospect.
UPDATE: After the Raiders wiped out more than $29 million in guaranteed money under Brown’s contract with the team, Brown asked to be released. And the Raiders have released him.
UPDATE: Antonio Brown is now a New England Patriot.