Antonio Brown and Carr brothers lash out on social media while QB Derek Carr stays quiet

Antonio Brown’s odd departure from the Oakland Raiders without ever playing a game for the silver and black has left many wondering what went wrong.

As well as who’s to blame.

Solely Brown?

Raiders coach John Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock?

How about quarterback Derek Carr?

Brown posted a somewhat cryptic message on social media Saturday afternoon that might’ve hinted he was not happy with the Raiders QB.

Or maybe the mercurial receiver was upset with Carr’s older brothers, David and Darren.

This, however, is clear.

Nearly six months since Brown came to Fresno to attend a birthday party for one of Derek Carr’s sons at Bulldog Stadium, the star receiver has gotten into a feud on social media with members of the Carr family.

He unfollowed Derek Carr on Instagram on Thursday.

Then about three hours after the Raiders released him Saturday morning, Brown tweeted: “Bumper Carrs.”

Earlier in the day and shortly after news broke that Brown was released and would become a free agent, David Carr, the former Fresno State star who’s an analyst for the NFL Network, posted a clown emoji and typed “Lies” when retweeting two statements that referenced comments from Brown’s agent Drew Rosenhaus. One of those statements from Rosenhaus included, in part, the sentiment that “everybody had the best intentions going in but it didn’t pan out.”

David Carr also went on the NFL Network show “Good Morning Football” and said:

“It’s almost mind-numbing because (the Raiders) have had his back from the very beginning. Gruden goes to bat for him with the helmet issue, missing practices. They’ve given him chance after chance after chance. And at this point, they have no choice. And this is from Derek. They have no choice but to move on. …

“There’s a relief, quite honestly. … Because quite honestly, there’s been better practices when (Brown is) not there.”

Brown’s “Bumper Carrs” tweet got a rise from the elder Carr brothers.

“Good luck, hope you find what you are looking for,” Darren Carr tweeted at Brown.

David Carr then posted a photo of a Trojan horse, which is a symbol of secretly undermining a person. Or perhaps in this situation, the Raiders specifically.

Darren Carr replied with a photo of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Derek Carr, who spent much of the offseason raving about the Raiders’ acquisition of Brown in March, did not address Brown’s departure on social media Saturday and did not make himself available to the media, either.

There were a few videos in the offseason, including one posted by the Raiders, that showed Carr and Brown acting quite friendly with each other.

Now, one must wonder whether any of those interactions were sincere.

And if so, when did the relationship turn sour?

Derek Carr’s lone social media interaction since Brown’s departure was a photo posted late Saturday of the Raiders’ five captains for the 2019 season.

Brown ended up signing with the New England Patriots a few hours after his release from the Raiders.

Brown agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $15 million, with $10 million guaranteed, his agent told ESPN.

Before the receiver’s contract was voided by his release from the Raiders, Brown had $29 million in guaranteed monies over a three-year deal with Oakland.

Brown posted a video on YouTube.com that showed him ecstatic about being released by the Raiders.

“Free!” Brown yelled in the video. “Let’s go!”

Brown also had an interesting, to say the least, YouTube post on Friday evening. On the same day that Brown apologized to then-Raiders teammates, an edited video surfaced of a telephone conversation between him and Gruden.

According to CBS Sports writer Will Brinson, David Carr eventually responded to the video by saying: “Jon Gruden, almost to a fault, has had this guy’s back. And then you find yourself being wiretapped...”

Among Brown’s final social media posts Saturday included a picture of him smiling with a Patriots jersey and hat on.

The post even got the attention of Denver Broncos star linebacker Von Miller, who commented: “Mastermind.”

This story was originally published September 8, 2019 at 2:14 AM.