Report: Antonio Brown asked Raiders to cut him

Wide receiver Antonio Brown sent multiple text messages to Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis asking for his release before the team granted his wish on Sept. 7, ESPN's Chris Mortensen tweeted Sunday.

If the report proves true, it could greatly damage Brown's grievance against the team related to lost wages.

After getting cut by the Raiders, Brown signed with New England. He played one game for the Patriots before they released him -- and he is seeking pay from them, too.

In total, Brown reportedly has filed eight grievances against the Raiders and Patriots seeking $39.8 million in lost salary, bonuses and guaranteed money.

Brown, 31, is currently a free agent, but he is being investigated by the NFL under its personal conduct policy. A former trainer filed a lawsuit alleging that he sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. Texts that Brown reportedly sent to her related to the case preceded the Patriots' decision to release him.

Brown's brief time with the Raiders didn't include a single regular-season appearance. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded Brown to Oakland in March in exchange for third- and fifth-round draft choices, and the Raiders gave him a three-year, $50.1 million restructured contract extension.

During training camp, Brown was slowed by burns on his feet that reportedly occurred in a cryotherapy mishap. He also battled with the NFL because the league refused to sanction his use of an out-of-date helmet.

Late in the preseason, Brown was fined $215,000 by the Raiders for a confrontation with Oakland general manager Mike Mayock. The conduct fine voided the approximately $30 million of guarantees in Brown's contract.

The Raiders subsequently cut ties with Brown. The seven-time Pro Bowl selection then emerged to catch four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' 43-0 win against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2 before his brief New England tenure ended, too.

--Field Level Media