Former NFL star Antonio Brown posted on social media on Thursday, just hours after being charged with attempted murder. The charge follows an extensive manhunt that saw US Marshals capture the ex-player in Dubai.
The 37-year-old played 159 times in the NFL, scoring 83 touchdowns while representing the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brown also won the Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2020.
However, his career was blighted by controversies and his personal life has been just as eventful since announcing his retirement from the game in February 2023. The wide receiver had been being pursued by authorities following a shooting outside an amateur boxing event in Miami in May. A statement from officials following his detainment read:
"Antonio Brown has been a fugitive on an outstanding criminal charge in Miami-Dade County. We have been informed that he was extradited from Dubai and is in custody in New Jersey, pending his return to Miami-Dade County."
Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
Brown has reportedly been charged with attempted second-degree murder, after which his mug shot went public.
Antonio Brown Remains Active on Twitter Despite Arrest
Footage obtained by police appeared to show Brown involved in a disagreement at the boxing show, before shots were fired. Despite fleeing to Dubai in order to evade capture, Brown continued to post frequently on his social media accounts.
These continued even after he was detained on Thursday, with the star insisting he was innocent in a post that ended with #FREEAB.
"Handed over the keys to the socials and CTESPN to my team while I go through this fight for my innocence. All love & respect to everyone for the support."
Brown's reference to 'CTESPN' is an amalgamation of the initials of the degenerative brain disease, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and the cable network ESPN. The former player has continually claimed to have CTE as a result of his NFL career, even though the condition can only be diagnosed after a player has passed away.
However, a rival of Brown's who witnessed the alleged shooting doesn't believe that the condition is to blame for his actions. Zul Qarnaįn Nantambu took Brown to court in 2022 over a valuable pendant that he claims the star stole from him. Nantambu was awarded damages by a Florida court of $968,960, but the judgement was later overturned. Speaking about Brown's character prior to the original court case, Nantambu stated.
"He [Brown] plays gangster and plays the police at the same time, then he blames CTE." If found guilty, Brown could face up to 15 years in prison.