In an appearance on HBO’s Real Sports Tuesday night, former Tampa Bay wide receiver Antonio Brown and his attorney Sean Burstyn alleged that the buccaneers are trying to use Brown’s sanity to cover up the mistreatment of the receiver, who infamously took off his uniform and left the field during his team’s Week 17 game against Jets.
The former All-Pro also said the team offered him money to seek mental health treatment in order to further the narrative that his mental health was the cause of the incident and that he “isn’t trustworthy to do a good job on the field.” “.
“These guys on the Tampa Bay Bucs tried to cut a deal with me to give me $200,000 to go to the crazy house so these guys could look like they know what they’re talking about,” Brown told host Bryant Gumbel. Burstyn went on to explain that the Bucs wanted to put Brown on a reserve list and have him commit to some type of intensive mental health treatment.
“And the general manager specifically told us in writing, twice, ‘Don’t do this any other way,’” Burstyn said.
Brown said he told Gumbel he was too hurt to play during the game against the Jets. He said he told Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians about the injury, and that Arians’ response to Brown is what prompted the receiver’s actions. He also said that Arians’ claim that Brown was upset about his lack of goals was a lie.
“I want people to know that I was treated unfairly,” he said. “They pushed me to play while I was hurt and in the middle of it, not being able to play hurt, they told me ‘Get out of here’ and ‘You’re done.'”
Brown’s attorney, who said they are considering taking legal action in addition to seeking help through the CBA, said they have evidence to support their claims, some of which comes from the Buccaneers.
“They’re weaponizing mental health, everything people want to think about Antonio Brown, to cover up a really simple case, that he’s a player who gave it his all, gave his physical well-being for a team and was cut when he said ‘this it’s my limit and I can’t go beyond it,’” Burstyn said.
Gumbel also directly asked Brown if he felt he needed help with any mental health issues.
“I have mental wealth,” Brown replied.
Brown was in his second season with Tampa Bay and had 42 catches for 545 yards and four touchdowns.
(Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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