NFL rumors: Antonio Brown's release didn't sit well with ‘several' Patriots

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The Patriots did the right thing in releasing Antonio Brown.

They should have done it after the first lawsuit was filed, so they deserve zero credit or kudos, but in the end, Patriots owner Robert Kraft cut bait with the mercurial wide receiver after Brown sent menacing text messages to a woman who accused him of unwanted sexual advances in a story for Sports Illustrated.

Brown, while talented, isn't worth the constant headache he causes, and Kraft reportedly "led the charge" to release him, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday, believing the receiver would keep causing issues as the NFL investigates the sexual-assault claims levied against him.

While the move to cut Brown was the right one, reportedly not everyone in Foxboro saw it that way, as "several Patriots voiced their displeasure with the move," per Rapoport, noting the "positive impression" the receiver had made since he arrived.

The reported feeling inside the Patriots' locker room is in stark contrast to the mood around the Raiders' organization after they released Brown at his request two weeks ago. After an offseason that included frostbitten feet, reported retirement threats over the NFL's new helmet rule, a heated altercation with general manager Mike Mayock and fines for missing practice and a walk-through, the Raiders and coach Jon Gruden were glad to be rid of the headache and distraction Brown had become.

It's unlikely Brown will find another team while the NFL investigates the claims against him.

On Friday, the NFL interviewed the artist who claims Brown walked up behind her naked while she was being paid to paint a mural at his Pennsylvania home. The league also interviewed Brown's former trainer, Britney Taylor, who filed a federal lawsuit accusing the receiver of sexually assaulting her three times.

On Sunday morning, Brown went bananas on Twitter, claiming he'll never play in the NFL again and hinting that he would file a grievance against Kraft and the Patriots in order to get the guaranteed money from his contract.

The NFL has said it won't place Brown on the commissioner's exempt list while he's a free agent because there is no need to punish him while he's unemployed. With Brown a free agent and vowing never to play again, the NFL can take its time with the investigation.

[RELATED: AB's swift release highlights true nature of 'Patriot Way']

Brown's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, claims there is interest from several teams, but until those teams know if the receiver will be allowed to play, the chances of him signing with another team appear slim.

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