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WATCH: Antonio Brown reveals details on relationship with Buccaneers in new HBO interview

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•01/25/22•

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Elsa via Getty Images.

Wide receiver Antonio Brown‘s tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came to an abrupt and troubling end on October 2 against the New York Jets. Brown ripped off his uniform before running off the field in the middle of that game, leading to the Buccaneers releasing him.

On Tuesday, details emerged about Brown’s recent interview, alongside his agent, Sean Burstyn, with HBO’s Bryant Gumbel. In that interview, Brown shared some troubling details. Brown and Burstyn alleged that the Buccaneers offered Brown $200k to sit out the rest of the season and begin treatment for his mental health.

“The offer was Antonio would basically sit on the sidelines, go on some list, and commit himself to some form of intensive mental health treatment,” Burstyn said. “We were specifically told, in writing by the general manager, twice, ‘Don’t spin this any other way.'”

Via Yahoo’s Charles Robinson, Brown’s response included the suggestion of a potential defamation lawsuit against the NFL.

“A whole lotta money,” Brown said, via Robinson, when asked about what kind of figures he’d look for from the Buccaneers in a defamation lawsuit. “A whole lot. It’s – it’s totally disrespect, man. You know, it’s – mental health is an important key in the world, so to drag people along and play on people’s mental health, you know, it’s unfair and unfortunate.”

Burstyn: Saying Brown’s incident with Buccaneers came from a mental episode is ‘hurtful’

According to Brown and Burstyn, the incident that resulted in Brown’s release from the Buccaneers had nothing to do with a “mental episode.”

“To the extent that any of that is coming from a spin that Antonio had a spontaneous mental episode, it’s resentful and it’s hurtful,” Burstyn said. “And it’s a disservice to people who do suffer from mental health challenges. We all have our difficulties – Antonio, myself, everybody.”

Brown echoed that sentiment in a follow-up statement.

“Yeah these guys at the Tampa Bay Bucs tried to make an agreement with me to give me 200 thousand dollars to go to the crazy house so these guys could look like they know what they’re talking about.”

Despite all of the questions surrounding Brown’s ending with the Buccaneers, he said that multiple NFL teams have reached out to him. One of those teams with reported interest in Brown is the Baltimore Ravens. Brown posted a picture on Twitter of him in a Ravens uniform, further adding to the rollercoaster of an offseason it has already been for him.