Getty Antonio Brown remains on the Buccaneers roster through Tuesday, Jan. 4.
More than 48 hours after Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said Antonio Brown is “no longer a Buc,” nothing has officially changed.
Arians reiterated that Brown isn’t part of the team though still on the roster during a Wednesday, January 5, press conference.
“That’s a management decision what’s happening right now,” Arians told media.
A game of keep away by the Bucs commenced in the aftermath of Brown’s explosive exit on Sunday, January 2. Brown quit the team in the third quarter at New York when he ripped off his jersey, threw football gear into the stands and stormed off the field.
Despite Brown’s actions, the last thing the Bucs want to see next is the departed star receiver go to another playoff contender — something a receiver-needy team could consider Brown. As Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio put it, “Nothing secures second chances like talent.”
Without Brown getting waived for two consecutive days, the Bucs “still hold his rights, per source” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.
For the second straight day, WR Antonio Brown did not show up on today’s NFL wire, meaning the Buccaneers still hold his rights, per source.
Greg Auman of The Athletic reported on Tuesday that the Bucs are “still likely sorting out procedurally how best to take him off the roster without him being able to sign elsewhere.”
It would appear the Bucs again made no official transaction regarding Antonio Brown today. Still likely sorting out procedurally how best to take him off the roster without him being able to sign elsewhere.
Deliberations between the Bucs and the NFL began on Monday, January 3, on how the franchise should move forward with Brown’s designation, according to a source via Mark Maske of The Washington Post. The Bucs could suspend Brown for the rest of the season, for instance, instead of letting him become a free agent.
Brown had 42 catches for 545 yards and four touchdowns in seven games for the Bucs amid an ankle injury and three-game suspension. He could produce elsewhere in the playoffs, presuming his ankle is healthy and the bidding team can work with his personal situation.
Hence, the Bucs look to keep him stashed away.
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Brown’s Ankle Injury a Factor
While Arians said on Monday that Brown made no mention of his ongoing ankle injury during the sideline discussion before Brown’s blowup, parties close to Brown alluded to that as an issue.
Brown had “serious pain,” according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The former All-Pro’s representatives said he “underwent an MRI with a surgeon outside of the organization that confirmed the source of his pain during the Jets game,” Stroud reported on Wednesday.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, offensive staff called Brown into the game believing “that he was healthy.”
“What he told the staff, from what I understand, is that he was not going into the game because, in his mind, he did not feel he was healthy,” Rapoport said on “Good Morning Football.” “The response then from the offensive coaches and from Bruce Arians was, ‘If you are not gonna go into the game when we tell you to go into the game, then you cannot be here.’ At that point, they threw him off the sidelines and then cut him from the team.”
Tampa Bay placing Brown on injured reserve would be problematic because of the dynamics surrounding the ankle injury.
Brown Spotted at Nets Game
In addition to Brown’s Instagram posts and rap release, he has been seen in public since his dramatic exit from the Bucs.
He attended the Brooklyn Nets NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. YES Network caught him sitting courtside at the game.
Antonio Brown is at the Barclays Center.
Brown didn’t fly home with the Bucs on Sunday after taking a police escort from MetLife Stadium.
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