Complete Timeline of Antonio Brown's Dramatic Fall From Grace
By Michael Luciano
Antonio Brown's fall from grace was officially completed this week, as he turned himself in following a battery accusation against him. Brown's erratic behavior has been leading towards something like this, as his actions over the last year continue to baffle even when analyzed months later.
JUST NOW: Antonio Brown, wearing an anti-suicide smock, made his first court appearance.
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) January 24, 2020
His bond was set at $100,000 for the burglary with battery charge.
The judge ordered Brown to wear a GPS monitor, surrender his passport, and undergo a mental health evaluation. pic.twitter.com/IdCkH8jlcG
Week 17, 2018
Brown, after skipping practice for several days in a row before a pivotal matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, is ruled inactive for their Week 17 clash. He later claims he was dissatisfied with his role in Pittsburgh and demanded a trade.
March 9, 2019
After months of bashing the Steelers on Twitter and giving interviews in which he claims he doesn't "even have to play football", Brown is traded to the Oakland Raiders for a third and a fifth round pick. Oakland signed him to a $50 million contract with $30 million in guarantees.
August 3, 2019
Brown posts pictures of his feet after he contracted frostbite on social media. The injury would force him to miss all but 1 of Oakland's training camp practices.
August 9, 2019
Brown files a grievance against the NFL petitioning them to allow him to wear his old helmet, which was deemed unsafe by the league. After threatening to retire and filing a second grievance, Brown decided on the Xenith Shadow helmet.
September 4, 2019
Brown was fined by GM Mike Mayock for repeated unexcused absences.
September 5, 2019
After suiting up in just one preseason game in Oakland, Brown had an emotional confrontation with Mayock, even calling him a "cracker". Brown apologized the following day.
September 7, 2019
Brown demanded that the Raiders trade or release him, and they did the latter voiding any guarantees left in his contract. With all of that drama, he never played a regular season game for the Raiders, and he lost out on all the guarantees in his contract.
In less than six months in Oakland, Antonio Brown:
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 7, 2019
• Refused to play over helmet, filed grievance
• Threatened to retire
• Had a verbal altercation with GM, nearly suspended
• Released video containing seemingly recorded call with Jon Gruden
• Requested release
• Released pic.twitter.com/M8lqFpys49
Brown agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal with the New England Patriots the same day, and the Patriots strengthened their offense as they looked to repeat as champions.
September 10, 2019
Brown was accused by Britney Taylor, a former trainer, of sexual assault on three separate occasions. Brown allegedly exposed himself to her, ejaculated on her back, and raped her.
September 15, 2019
Brown catches four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in New England's 43-0 win over the Miami Dolphins, the one game he would play in during the 2019 season.
September 20, 2019
Under constant media pressure given the nature of the allegations against Brown, Bill Belichick cuts Brown.
October 9, 2019
Taylor drops the civil case against Brown, but he is still under investigation from the league.
November 21, 2019
Brown countersues Taylor, calling the allegations she made "fake" and "defamatory."
December 14, 2019
Brown makew the baffling decision to live stream a confrontation he had with Hollywood, Fla. police outside of his home. This was just the beginning of Brown's issues with law enforcement.
December 27, 2019
Even after months upon months of non-stop Twitter rants and rap music videos, Brown gets a workout, against all odds, from the New Orleans Saints. The Saints, while impressed with his skill, did not sign him, likely because he disobeyed an order not to bring cameras with him. Brown himself later called the entire workout a "PR stunt".
January 13, 2020
The Hollywood, Fla. police return a check from Brown and ask him not to associate with the local PAL leagues anymore.
January 16, 2020
Drew Rosenhaus, Brown's agent, severs his relationship with him until he "gets help."
January 21, 2020
Brown and trainer Glen Holt were accused of burglarizing and battering a moving truck driver. The driver claims Brown was high and began throwing stones at his truck before eventually making their way inside the truck and assaulting him.
January 22, 2020
A warrant is issued for Brown's arrest as it related to that battery case. Brown locks himself in his Hollywood home as he tries to avoid the police, which he kept up for about a day before he realized the futility of it all.
January 23, 2020
Brown ends his standoff with police and is take into custody. He is released on $110,000 bail, but his reputation is in tatters as he could be in for a potential life sentence.
Antonio Brown was granted bail on Friday with the total bond for his three charges being $110,000.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 24, 2020
He'll also be required to be monitored by GPS, release his passport and guns, go through drug and alcohol testing, and get a mental health evaluation. https://t.co/XBx4XGB1Fd
In just over a calendar year, Brown went from All-Pro and future Hall of Famer to facing time behind bars. The fall from grace is nothing short of tragic given how swift it was.