Oakland Raiders players may have been happy that the team parted ways with Antonio Brown on Saturday, but that doesn’t mean some of them aren’t worried about his welfare.
According to Josina Anderson of ESPN, Raiders players have exhibited some concern for Brown through text messages. Anderson adds that the texts “aren’t tweetable” at the current point in time, but there is obviously some degree of consternation over Brown’s mental state.
Brown took to Instagram on Saturday morning to request his release from the Raiders after Oakland voided the $30 million in guaranteed money he was owed in his contract. The Raiders then met his request, cutting him later in the day.
It all started earlier this week, when Brown was hit with a $54,000 fine by the Raiders for missing some time during training camp. Displeased with the penalty, Brown posted the fine letter Oakland sent him on Instagram.
The 31-year-old then confronted Raiders general manager Mike Mayock at practice on Wednesday in a heated dispute that nearly turned physical before linebacker Vontaze Burfict intervened and restrained Brown. Oakland debated whether or not it should suspend the wide receiver, with some suggesting that the Raiders should void his guaranteed money and then release him.
However, Brown apologized to the team on Friday, and afterward, it was announced that Brown would be playing in Oakland’s season opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday night. But, clearly, that came with some strings attached, strings of which Brown was none too pleased.
The Raiders acquired Brown in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers back in March in exchange for a couple of draft picks.