FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots released embattled wide receiver Antonio Brown on Friday, less than two weeks after signing him.
"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," the team said in a statement.
Text messages sent by Brown to a woman alleging sexual misconduct were viewed by some in the organization to have crossed the line, a source told ESPN. The text messages -- which were reported by Sports Illustrated on Thursday and included a picture of the woman's children, which her lawyers called intimidating -- were significant in that they were sent while Brown was a member of the Patriots, the source said.
Up to that point, the issues surrounding Brown were all from before he had signed with the team on Sept. 9.
Brown, who had practiced with the Patriots earlier Friday, tweeted his thanks to the organization shortly before the move was announced.
Brown has been accused of sexually assaulting his former trainer, Britney Taylor, according to a civil lawsuit she filed Sept. 10. A source previously told ESPN's Jeff Darlington that Brown declined to sign a $2 million-plus agreement with Taylor in a proposed settlement.
Taylor met with the NFL on Sept. 16. A source had previously told ESPN that there are "more interviews and information-gathering being conducted now beyond Taylor."
Reached Friday by ESPN, the NFL said it would not discuss details about its ongoing investigation.
It remains unclear when or if Brown will interview with the league.
Brown out: Pats cut WR amid off-field allegations
"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," the team said in a statement.
Text messages sent by Brown to a woman alleging sexual misconduct were viewed by some in the organization to have crossed the line, a source told ESPN. The text messages -- which were reported by Sports Illustrated on Thursday and included a picture of the woman's children, which her lawyers called intimidating -- were significant in that they were sent while Brown was a member of the Patriots, the source said.
Up to that point, the issues surrounding Brown were all from before he had signed with the team on Sept. 9.
Brown, who had practiced with the Patriots earlier Friday, tweeted his thanks to the organization shortly before the move was announced.
Brown has been accused of sexually assaulting his former trainer, Britney Taylor, according to a civil lawsuit she filed Sept. 10. A source previously told ESPN's Jeff Darlington that Brown declined to sign a $2 million-plus agreement with Taylor in a proposed settlement.
Taylor met with the NFL on Sept. 16. A source had previously told ESPN that there are "more interviews and information-gathering being conducted now beyond Taylor."
Reached Friday by ESPN, the NFL said it would not discuss details about its ongoing investigation.
It remains unclear when or if Brown will interview with the league.
Brown out: Pats cut WR amid off-field allegations
