Wide receiver Antonio Brown of the Oakland Raiders warms up before the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
After a grand total of zero regular-season games, The Antonio Brown Era is officially over for the Raiders.
In what has been nothing short of an absolute disaster of a tenure, Brown took to Instagram on Saturday morning to tell the world (and the Raiders) to release him from his contract.
Brown’s demand came less than 12 hours after Brown posted a private call with Raiders head coach Jon Gruden as part of a hype (I guess?) video to social media. It also came just one morning after Gruden said that Brown, who was originally slated to miss the team’s Week 1 game due to a suspension stemming from an altercation with general manager Mike Mayock, would indeed suit up and play against Denver in the team’s Monday Night Football opener.
But rather than try to mend fences for the millionth time, the Raiders instead went ahead and granted Brown his wish.
The Raiders have released WR Antonio Brown from the team today.
— Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) September 7, 2019
Brown does not have to pass through waivers, meaning he’s free to sign with any team.
For all of his off-field headaches, the 31-year-old Brown remains a highly productive talent, and had 104 catches, 1,297 yards, and a career-high 15 touchdowns in 15 games with the Steelers last year.