Antonio Brown, Released by the Raiders, to Sign With the Patriots

Antonio Brown’s long strange trip in Oakland is now over. Now he appears to be on to New England.

The Raiders released Brown, their star wide receiver, on Saturday, ending the latest chapter in his brief but remarkably tumultuous tenure with the team. The announcement came just hours after Brown asked the team to release him and only two days before the Raiders are scheduled to open the season against the Denver Broncos.

Brown posted a message on his Instagram account on Saturday morning saying that he was misunderstood and unappreciated, and wanted to move on. “Release me @Raiders #NOMore,” he wrote.

Now Brown, who became one of the most gifted receivers in the league during his nine years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, has agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract with the New England Patriots, according to Drew Rosenhaus, Brown’s agent. Bleacher Report was the first to report that Brown would be signing with the Patriots.

The Patriots did not respond to a request for comment.

In general, players who agree to terms with a team must take a physical and sign their contract before they would be eligible to begin playing. That can take days. That means Brown, assuming he joins the Patriots, will not play on Sunday, when New England faces his old team, the Steelers.

The report of Brown’s potential move to the Patriots came just hours after his agent, Rosenhaus told ESPN his client was “looking forward to a new beginning.”

Brown signed a three-year extension with about $30 million guaranteed after being acquired from Pittsburgh in March for two draft picks.

The Raiders cut Brown because they were confident they do not have to pay the guaranteed portion of his $64 million contract, according to ESPN and NFL Network. Brown’s request to be released was likely an admission that he knew he would not receive any money guaranteed in his contract, ESPN said.

The decision ends one of oddest showdowns between a team and player in years.

Hours before Brown demanded to be released, he posted a video on YouTube that included what appeared to be a taped phone conversation between the wide receiver and Coach Jon Gruden. Gruden is heard asking Brown whether he wanted to be a Raider and if he was ready to play. Brown said he was a Raider and had been working hard. It is unclear whether Gruden knew he was being recorded, or whether he authorized its use. ESPN later reported that Gruden was “truly amused” by the video and thought it was “awesome.”

It was only the latest in a series of bizarre twists during Brown’s time in Oakland. He reported to training camp with an undisclosed foot injury, then posted a picture of his badly blistered, peeling feet on Instagram. In the image, Brown wore a big smile. Reports, notably on NFL.com, said that Brown entered a cryogenic therapy chamber without proper footwear and got frostbite.

Brown then refused to practice because the helmet he preferred was banned in the off-season by the N.F.L. and the N.F.L. Players Association because it, and other models, did not meet basic safety standards. This week Brown announced via video on the helmet-maker’s website that he had found a replacement.

Brown objected anew when the team fined him almost $54,000 for failing to practice with the team, and other infractions. He posted a photo on social media of the letter informing him of the fines. Then Brown and General Manager Mike Mayock reportedly argued about the fines. On Thursday, some media reported that Brown threatened Mayock, and that the team was considering suspending the receiver for several games.

On Friday, the Raiders played down the dispute, and Gruden said Brown would be with the Raiders when they open the season against the Broncos.

Now the Raiders will move on without their erstwhile receiver. Because Brown’s release made him an unrestricted free agent, N.F.L. teams were allowed to contact his agent immediately.

The entire episode raises questions about Gruden’s command of the Raiders since signing a 10-year contract last year. Gruden was widely criticized last season when he traded his best defensive player, linebacker Khalil Mack, to the Chicago Bears, and then sent his best wide receiver, Amari Cooper, to the Dallas Cowboys. The Raiders finished 4-12, last place in the A.F.C. West, and missed the playoffs for the 15th time in the past 16 seasons.

This year, Gruden traded for Brown and signed offensive lineman Richie Incognito and linebacker Vontaze Burfict, two players who have been suspended and fined for various infractions.

On Saturday, Gruden told reporters he was “disappointed” things did not work out with Brown. “We did everything to make this work,” he added. “I wish Antonio nothing but the best.”