Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Tom Brady is opening up about his once-close friendship with former teammate Antonio Brown.
During a 2022 game against the New York Jets, Brown stripped off his jersey mid-game, tossed his gear into the stands, and stormed off the field shirtless, leaving fans and teammates in disbelief.
He later claimed he was forced to play on an injured ankle, which he said would require surgery, alleging that the Buccaneers staff ignored his condition. Coach Bruce Arians disputed his claims, stating Brown refused to enter the game when asked.
Tom Brady speaks about Antonio Brown on Impaulsive
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“I wanted the best for him, you know, I think I saw a spark in him that I thought if put in the right place, you know how incredible it could be for not just the team he was on but for his life and what he could accomplish,” said Brady in the above clip.
“I always hoped for the best for him, and I met him, and I always admired him as a player, and then I got to play with him and I actually saw in the meeting room, like how he could take information and bring it to the field.”
After Brown’s exit, he publicly questioned the authenticity of their friendship, suggesting it was based on his performance on the field. He also accused Brady of cursing out his agent during contract negotiations and treating him “like a dog” over broken promises. He would later apologize to Brady for his public remarks.