NFL star released after deserting team in touchline meltdown

Brown is "no longer a Buc" following the incident.

NFL star Antonio Brown has left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he dramatically walked out of their game at the New York Jets on Sunday. The wide receiver stripped off his jersey and pads as he made several gestures towards to crowd, before walking back to the locker room halfway through the third quarter of the match. It is thought that the 33-year-old was annoyed by a conversation with one of the team staff while on the sidelines. Tampa head coach Bruce Arians has since revealed that Brown is 'no longer a Buc' following the incident.

"He is no longer a Buc," he said after the game, which his side won 28-24.

"That is the end of the story, let's talk about the guys who went out there and won the game."

Arians also told Fox Sports that he instructed Brown to enter the game on two occasions, with the 12-year veteran refusing to do so. He then told Brown to"get out".

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The Bucs were trailing 24-10 when Brown walked off, but they responded well as legendary quarterback Tom Brady led a game-winning drive in the final minute.

Having already qualified for the playoffs as NFC South winners, the victory moved them to 12-4 for the season.

"We want to see him be at his best and unfortunately it won't be with our team," said Brady when asked about Brown.

"We have a lot of friendships that will last. I think everyone should be very compassionate and empathetic toward some very difficult things that are happening."

Brown - a seven-time Pro Bowler with the Pittsburgh Steelers - has lived a controversial career.

He was released by New England Patriots in 2019 after one game amid allegations of sexual misconduct and threatening text messages.

His former trainer, Britney Taylor, alleged in the civil lawsuit that Brown sexually assaulted her on two training trips in June 2017 and then raped her in Miami in May 2018.

Brown resolved a civil dispute with Taylor, with the two sides reaching a settlement.

The 33-year-old was also suspended for the first half of the 2020 season amid assault and burglary charges, with his ban stemming from a no-contest plea to burglary and battery charges from a January 2020 incident in Florida.

He was later suspended for three matches in December for misrepresenting a Covid-19 vaccination certificate.