Pats the latest to release Brown
Antonio Brown was released by the Patriots on Friday after a second woman accused him of sexual misconduct. New England is the third team in seven months to have tired of the receiver’s conduct.
The defending Super Bowl champions announced the move in a statement emailed to reporters, three minutes after Brown posted on Twitter: “Thank you for the opportunity @Patriots #GoWinIt.”
Brown has been accused of rape in a lawsuit by a former trainer. He also faces allegations that he exposed himself to an artist he hired to paint a mural at his home. He has denied the accusations.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady both declined
to comment on Brown — one of the NFL’s most prolific receivers for a decade — during their scheduled media availability Friday. Belichick said during the morning that the team was looking into “some things,” then cut off his news conference when reporters continued to ask about Brown.
In the email attributed to “a Patriots spokesperson,” the team said: “We appreciate the hard work of many people over the past 11 days, but we feel that it is best to move in a different direction at this time.”
Earlier this week, Nike cut ties with the receiver, saying in an email, “Antonio Brown is not a Nike athlete.”
PANTHERS’ NEWTON RULED OUT FOR
SUNDAY’S GAME >> The Panthers will
be counting on second-year quarterback Kyle Allen to help them climb out of an 0-2 hole to start the season. Allen was named Carolina’s starter for Sunday’s game at Arizona after Cam Newton was ruled out with a mid-foot sprain. It will be the second career start for Allen, an Arizona native.
Newton aggravated his left foot injury in Carolina’s 20-14 loss to the Buccaneers on Sept. 12 and has not practiced since.
BROWNS COULD BE WITHOUT STARTING SECONDARY AGAINST RAMS >> The Cleveland Browns could be without six defensive starters, including their entire secondary, when they host the defending NFC champion Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. Safety Damarious Randall (concussion) and linebacker Christian Kirksey (chest) were formally declared out by coach Freddie Kitchens following practice Friday at the Browns’ suburban training facility.
Safety Morgan Burnett (quadriceps), linebacker Adarius Taylor (ankle) and cornerbacks Denzel Ward (hamstring) and Greedy Williams (hamstring) are listed as questionable.
Cornerbacks T.J. Carrie and Terrance Mitchell and safeties Eric Murray and Jermaine Whitehead are set to move into the starting lineup, along with rookie linebacker Mack Wilson.
FALK TO START FOR JETS >> Luke Falk was merely a practice squad quarterback a week ago, a guy whose name with which some New York Jets fans might not even have been familiar. With Sam Darnold still sidelined by mononucleosis and Trevor Siemian out for the season with an ankle injury, Falk, the former Washington State star, is the Jets’ starting quarterback — and against the New England Patriots.
RAMS’ HIGBEE OUT >> Rams tight end Tyler Higbee will miss the Rams’ game at Cleveland with a bruised chest, coach Sean McVay said.