Just hours after Antonio Brown called on the Oakland Raiders to “release” him over reports that his guaranteed payout was voided by a massive $215,000 fine, the organization granted him his wish.
The embattled football player, who has been at odds with general manager Mike Mayock all offseason, in part over a self-inflicted foot injury, posted a message on Instagram Saturday where he called on the Raiders to “release me.”
“You are gonna piss a lot of people off when you start doing what’s best for you,” a quote posted to Brown’s page read.
He shared the image with a caption that seemed to take aim at the organization after weeks of feuding, going so far as to tag the team.
“And that’s fine! I have worked my whole life to prove that the system is blind to see talent like mines,” he wrote. “Now that everyone sees it, they want me to conform to that same system that has failed me all those years. ‘I’m not mad at anyone. I’m just asking for the freedom to prove them all wrong.’ Release me.”
Just hours later – the team did just that.
The Raiders have released WR Antonio Brown from the team today.
— Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) September 7, 2019
Brown’s release seemed to stem from reports that he was fined $215,073.53 — a move by the team that essentially voided the guaranteed pay he was supposed to receive from his nearly $30 million contract.
Jeff Darlington, a reporter for ESPN, said he received an email Saturday from Brown who he stated that the team “took away my guarantees,” adding that there’s “no way I play.”
