Antonio Brown says Buccaneers treated him like 'a little dog' before infamous shirtless exit

More than a year after leaving MetLife Stadium in bizarre fashion, former Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown provided his account of what happened. He says his frustration boiled over because he felt lied to by the staff and Tom Brady.

Brown joined the It Needed to be Said podcast, hosted by NFL receiver Tyreek Hill. He talked about his wild exit, leaving the field shirtless during the Buccaneers-Jets game on Jan. 2.

Initially, Brown said he was too injured to play in the game, telling coaches he needed rest before the playoffs. But a phone call from Brady persuaded him to suit up.

“Tom called me like ‘Yo this week man the Jets man, they sweet man imma hit you with like 10 to 12,'” Brown said. “So, he gonna gas me up so you know me, that’s all I need to hear like yo you gonna throw me the ball, this is like me saying like I got a new crib like you know me, you know what I’m saying.”

Brown was targeted five times during the game before leaving the field.

Update: Antonio Brown opens up about what led to the end of his NFL career.

What caused the meltdown in the #Jets game pic.twitter.com/uaNVF6I9a3

(🎥 @cheetah_podcast with @cheetah)

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 23, 2023

Brown also said he felt like he was being treated like “a little dog,” at one point during the conversation.

“You don’t want to throw me the ball and you making me like I’m crazy, so, I was like, I’m crazy? f*** all you m***** f******, I’m out of here,'” he said.

A year ago today, Antonio Brown walked off the field against the Jets.

He hasn’t played in a NFL game since this moment. pic.twitter.com/pCk2TqyIZs

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) January 2, 2023

Brown played in seven games during the 2021 regular season for the Buccaneers, putting up solid numbers. He hauled in 42 catches for 545 yards and four touchdowns. But his exit from MetLife Stadium marks the last time the receiver has played in a game.

Since his exit from the stadium — and the NFL — Brown turned against Brady, frequently calling out the seven-time Super Bowl champion during the 2022 season. He took shots at Brady’s character, as well as the divorce from Gisele Bundchen.

Brown has also faced numerous legal issues over the past few years. Based on his actions on and off the field, it seems unlikely that another NFL team calls him up.

In his NFL career, Brown earned seven Pro Bowl honors. He was a member of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV-winning squad.