Antonio Brown: Oakland Raiders release wide receiver before NFL opener
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Antonio Brown spent eight seasons at Pittsburgh Steelers before joining Oakland Raiders in March
The Oakland Raiders have released wide receiver Antonio Brown just two days before the team's NFL season opener.
Brown, 31, was fined on Friday after a confrontation with Raiders general manager Mike Mayock but was expected to face the Denver Broncos on Monday.
The news came just hours after Brown posted a message on Instagram that ended: "Release me @raiders."
Brown became one of the NFL's highest-paid wide receivers when he joined Oakland from Pittsburgh in March.
He arrived from the Steelers on a three-year deal worth more than $50m (£41m) per season.
However, Brown has reportedly not received any money, external from the Raiders so far.
The team confirmed Brown's departure in a one-line statement, external on their official website.
Brown is not subject to waivers and can now sign for any team as a free agent.
"We are focused on the future and I will immediately work on signing him to a new team," Brown's agent Drew Rosenhaus told NFL.com., external
"Antonio is looking forward to a new beginning."
Brown's release comes at the end of dramatic period for the player.
Since arriving at the Raiders, he has missed time because of frostbite-like injuries to his feet caused by entering a cryotherapy chamber without wearing proper footwear.
He then sat out a further period of the off-season during a dispute with the NFL over his helmet.
The altercation between Brown and Mayock ended with the pair having to be physically separated, according to reports,, external and led to Brown making an apology at a team meeting on Friday morning.
BBC Sport NFL pundit analysis
Jason Bell (left) and Osi Umenyiora are NFL experts for BBC Sport
Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jason Bell:
What I want to know is, who is in this guy's head? Who is advising him? There should always be players that put you in your place.
He has been allowed to carry on like this and has negatively affected the organisation.
Former New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora:
The locker room will be in a state of total confusion.
You need a guy like this to elevate the football team and this is a fantastic team, but on the other hand you do not need those distractions.
You do not need somebody who behaves like he is above the law and how much is he getting away with.
The Raiders cannot allow this to happen and they had to make a statement right now.