On Friday night, Antonio Brown posted a strangely cinematic video that included a recorded phone call with Raiders coach Jon Gruden. The conversation centered on the recent drama involving Brown and the team.
"There's a lot of people that have an opinion about you, and whether it be good or bad, you're in the spotlight all the time," Gruden is heard saying. "Let me ask you this: Do you want to be a Raider or not?"
Brown responds: "I've been trying to be a Raider since day 1. I've been fuckin' workin' my ass off harder than anyone. I don't know why it's a question of me wanting to be a Raider; it's like, do you guys want me to be a Raider?"
The video comes with a caption attempting to explain his rationale.
"With all these false narratives antagonizing me, it’s time for me to control my own narrative," it says. "Show the world I’m not the bad guy. Show the world you can free yourself from the lies and become your own person. I am not just AB the football player, I am Antonio Brown, the person, who paved a way for himself to be in charge of his own life."
Gruden reportedly already saw his appearance and thought it was "awesome."
More on @AB84 You Tube video: Raiders source says Gruden was truly amused by it and even thought it was "awesome."
That's all. Next.
The video comes after another eventful day for Brown. According to ESPN'S Ed Werder, the 31-year-old wide receiver has been ordered to pay an "unspecified amount" for his "unprofessional behavior" toward Raiders general manager Mike Mayock. Brown reportedly got into a verbal dispute with the GM during Wednesday's practice, when he allegedly cursed at Mayock and called him a "cracker." Brown has since denied ever using that term and insisted the situation was "blown out of proportion."
Though sources said Brown eventually apologized for the altercation, it appears the team wasn't going to let it slide. "[Brown's] been fined and he's not happy," an insider told Werder.
Following news of the exchange, Raiders were reportedly considering suspending Brown. The incident was said to have started after Mayock had confronted the athlete about his social media activity—specifically his decision to post the disciplinary letter he had received from the team. The correspondence indicated that Brown had been slapped with $54,000 in fines for missing multiple practices. Brown then took to Instagram to express his frustration, posting the image on his stories along with a caption that read: "WHEN YOUR OWN TEAM WANT TO HATE BUT THERE’S NO STOPPING ME NOW DEVIL IS A LIE. EVERYONE GOT TO PAY THIS YEAR SO WE CLEAR."
