Embattled free agent wide receiver Antonio Brown says he is ready to make amends for his off-field behavior, which has cost him two NFL jobs since late August, writing on social media that he regrets his actions following the ‘false’ rape allegations made against him.
‘While my behavior was inexcusable, sometimes when people are coming at you with false information and allegations, we handle ourselves in ways that we sometimes regret,’ he wrote on Instagram.
‘I do take full responsibility for my actions and I’m working everyday to repair what I broke. I do know that if I’m ever given the opportunity to play the game that I love, I’m going to work extremely hard to show the world how much I appreciate another chance.’
Brown is currently being sued in Florida by his former trainer, Britney Taylor, who accused him of rape and sexual assault over three incidents between 2017 and 2018 at his Pennsylvania and Florida residences.
Since late August he has been cut by both the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots amid a series of shameful incidents, such as his heated confrontation with Raiders general manager Mike Mayock over personal fines. He has since filed grievances against the Raiders and Patriots in hopes of recouping $38.9 million in lost salary between both franchises.
Embattled free agent wide receiver Antonio Brown says he is ready to make amends for his off-field behavior, which has cost him two NFL jobs since late August, writing on social media that he regrets his actions following the ‘false’ rape allegations made against him
Although he never specifies exactly what he’s apologizing for on Instagram, Brown does make it clear that he regrets upsetting many people in his life
Brown is currently being sued in Florida by his former trainer, Britney Taylor (left), who accused him of rape and sexual assault over three incidents between 2017 and 2018
Although he never specifies exactly what he’s apologizing for on Instagram, Brown does make it clear that he regrets upsetting many people in his life.
‘First and foremost, I’d like to apologize to my family, friends and anyone who I offended,’ he wrote. ‘I never once meant to make anyone feel like I wasn’t thankful and appreciative of the opportunity that I was afforded to play the game I love.
‘I’ve worked hard over the years to earn a chance to compete in the greatest game on earth. Over the years I was met with challenges and I can honestly say I didn’t handle those challenges in the manner that I should have. Over the past few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to think about everything that’s transpired and I am deeply sorry to all who I’ve offended.’
A seven-time Pro Bowl selection with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brown was traded over the off-season to the Oakland Raiders, who made him the highest-paid receiver in football with a three-year, $50 million extension.
The second accuser shared these screenshots with Sports Illustrated showing how Brown allegedly threatened her after she came forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct. This unidentified accuser has not pressed charges against Brown
But as training camp began in August, Brown, who had fallen out of favor in Pittsburgh, began making enemies in Oakland.
First he missed time while dealing with blistering feet as a result of a frostbite mishap during cryogenic therapy.
Then there was the prolonged dispute with the league over Brown’s helmet, which was no longer approved by the NFL because it was over 10-years old.
After losing a pair of grievances, Brown settled on a model made by Xenith, and announced the decision on Instagram, with the words: ‘Helmet drama over.’
Less than a day later, that drama resurfaced when Brown allegedly confronted general manager Mike Mayock, who fined him $53,000 for the practices he missed.
Brown then apologized to teammates for his outburst, in which he reportedly called Mayock a ‘cracker’ and needed to be restrained, according to ESPN.
Things appeared to be back on track after the apology, until Brown learned that the Raiders had voided $30 million in guarantees on his contract, prompting him to lash out on social media.
Brown demanded his release, which Mayock granted, and within a day he had agreed to a deal with the New England Patriots.
ESPN reported that the Seattle Seahawks expressed an interest in signing Brown, who has been released by the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots in the last two months. Seattle ultimately signed another former Patriot, wide receiver Josh Gordon. Previously Brown’s agent Drew Rosenhaus (right) told ESPN that there are ‘a few’ teams interested in signing Brown
Soon after Brown signed one-year, $15 million deal with the Patriots in early September, Taylor filed her lawsuit in federal court. (She has since dropped that suit and refiled in Florida)
It remains unclear if the Patriots were aware of the allegations against Brown at the time of his signing, although his agent Drew Rosenhaus did tell ESPN that he and his client knew there was a possibility of a lawsuit.
Another woman has since anonymously accused Brown of sexual harassment, telling Sports Illustrated that he hired her in 2017 to paint a mural at his Pennsylvania home, where he disrobed and approached her wearing only a hand towel over his genitals.
In response to that story, the 31-year-old Brown sent menacing text messages to the unidentified woman, accusing her of making up the allegation and threatening to look into her past.
She then shared those texts with Sports Illustrated.
Embattled free agent wide receiver Antonio Brown (left) has apologized to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft (right) for his brief, but turbulent tenure with the team
Brown played in only one game for the Patriots before his release on September 20 amid accusations of rape and sexual assault. Now he is apologizing to Kraft for ‘the bad media’
Brown’s brief time with the Raiders didn’t include a single regular-season appearance. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded Brown to Oakland in March in exchange for third- and fifth-round draft choices, and the Raiders gave him a three-year, $50.1 million restructured contract extension
Brown was cut by the Patriots on September 20, shortly after the text messages to his anonymous accuser were reported. The team never gave an official reason for his release.
The unidentified woman has not filed any lawsuit or pressed criminal charges against Brown.
He has maintained his innocence against all sexual misconduct chargers.
Following his release, Brown tweeted a reference to solicitation of prostitution charges against Patriots owner Robert Kraft in Florida.
‘Kraft got caught in the parlor AB speculations fired different strokes different folks clearly,’ Brown wrote in a since-deleted tweet that included a picture of Britney Taylor, the wide receiver’s former trainer who is accusing him in a lawsuit of rape and sexual assault.
Since then, Brown has alternately declared he was done with football before expressing his desire to return to the NFL.
His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has stated that teams have expressed interest in Brown, pending the findings of the NFL’s investigation into Taylor’s claims.