Tom Brady asked for empathy and compassion toward Antonio Brown after the receiver left the field in a shirtless meltdown during Tampa Bay’s win over the Jets on Sunday.
“I think everybody should hopefully do what they can to help him in ways that he really needs it,” Brady told reporters. “We all love him. We care about him deeply. We want to see him be at his best.”
Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said following the game that Brown would no longer be with the team. Brady helped Brown get jobs in New England and Tampa Bay. Both of those have now ended in acrimony.
Brown was cut from New England after playing one game. The NFL was investigating him at the time for allegations of sexual assault. That followed his leaving the Raiders before even playing a game after a fallout with GM Mike Mayock.
This year, Brown had already been suspended for lying about his COVID-19 vaccination status. He abruptly ripped his shirt off and ran up the tunnel in the middle of Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium.
“Unfortunately he can’t be with our team but we have a lot of friendships that will last,” Brady said. “Again I think the most important things about football are the relationships with your friends and your teammates, and they go beyond the field. I think everyone should be very compassionate and empathetic with some difficult things that are happening.”
The Buccaneers moved to 12-4 following a 28-24 win over the Jets.