Antonio Brown’s purported deception upset Jerry Rice.
As Brown’s Raiders exit and Patriots signing unfolded Saturday, the Hall of Fame receiver tweeted that Brown “had us all fooled.”
Rice further stated his case Monday while on 95.7 The Game, saying Brown wanted to join the Patriots all along and never wanted to be in Oakland.
ESPN reported Sunday that Brown contacted social media consultants for advice on how to speed up his release from the Raiders, which added to the growing whispers Brown wanted to be New England-bound from the beginning.
The Steelers had refused to trade Brown to their rival Patriots in March, which led the seven-time Pro Bowler to Oakland. The Patriots — without Brown who was ineligible to play Week 1 — beat the Steelers, 33-3, Sunday night.
“We all got played, man.” Rice said. “He contacted me and he told me that he wanted to play ball here in the Bay Area. He wanted to be part of the San Francisco 49ers. I bought into it because I can only take a man at his word … but I think this, it was pretty much already planned. He had to take a different direction.”
Brown, who signed a three-year, $50.125 million contract with the Raiders, never played a down for them, as he recovered from frostbite on his feet from using a cryochamber and battled the league to use a helmet that was not deemed safe.
“I think when he asked to be released from the Steelers, he wanted to go to the Patriots,” Rice said.
Things came to a boil over in Oakland last week when he reportedly called general manager Mike Mayock a “cracker” after being fined. He apologized to the team after it was reported the Raiders were going to suspend him, and then Brown posted a YouTube video on Friday night that included a recorded phone conversation with coach Jon Gruden.
The next day Brown was fined – $215,000 for conduct detrimental to the team – thus voiding $30 million of guaranteed money in his deal. He finally asked the Raiders to release him, and they obliged.
Brown signed with the Patriots hours later.
“I think he’s exactly where he wants to be,” Rice said. “He was a Denzel Washington and he won the Oscar. … He had all of us sold.”