Antonio Brown cost himself millions by getting cut from Raiders, Patriots
What's next for Antonio Brown after being released by the Patriots?
Maybe Antonio Brown doesn’t need millions of dollars, but that’s what he cost himself the past few weeks. Twice.
When Brown was cut by the Oakland Raiders, who signed him to an extension with $30 million guaranteed in March, people said he ended up just fine because he got $15 million from the New England Patriots for one season, with $9 million guaranteed.
Not so fast.
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For the second time since the end of the preseason, Brown couldn’t keep himself out of trouble long enough to collect a check most of us can only dream about. He asked for his release from the Raiders after posting a YouTube video of a phone call with Jon Gruden, and the Raiders granted that request. Hours later, the Patriots signed him.
And a few days before $5 million of his signing bonus was due from the Patriots, they also moved on after new allegations became public. The Patriots might have to fight Brown over the payment of that signing bonus, but broad language in the contract probably favors the Patriots in that battle.
Antonio Brown cut before he was due $5 million
The Patriots cut Brown on Friday. They
didn’t announce why he was cut, but it came after a civil lawsuit
alleged Brown raped his former trainer, and then a story by Sports Illustrated’s Robert Klemko said a second woman who accused Brown of sexual misconduct got
intimidating texts from Brown this week that included photos of her children.
Those were costly texts. Brown was due a $5 million portion of his signing bonus next Monday,
according to NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran. That was the first portion of his $9 million signing bonus. As
Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson wrote on Sept. 11, the Patriots had language in Brown’s contract that allowed them to void all $9 million of the guaranteed money if he took any action “undermining” the public image of the club. You’d have to assume that standard was met.
Assuming Brown will never get what was supposed to be guaranteed money, ESPN’s Field Yates broke down exactly how Brown lost a fortune with his misconduct.
The Patriots deserve every bit of criticism they get for signing Brown. But at least it probably won’t cost them much money in addition to the terrible publicity.
Nike, Xenith dropped Brown this month too
Brown has lost other money through his never-ending string of drama and serious accusations against him.
The helmet manufacturer Xenith quickly cut ties with Brown after news of the lawsuit broke. Nike dropped Brown this week as well.
There are many questions about Brown’s future, from whether the NFL will put him on the commissioner’s exempt list to whether Brown will land with his fourth team in 2019 (let’s not forget Brown also was almost was traded to the Buffalo Bills before he nixed that by threatening to not report ... the Bills have to be quite thankful).
No matter what happens next, it seems doubtful Brown will ever make up the money he cost himself.
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Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at
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