Antonio Brown released from Patriots after one game as wild, tumultuous year continues

Lynne Sladky/AP

• Antonio Brown was released from the New England Patriots on Friday after just one game.
• Over the past year, Brown has been traded and released twice.
• Brown was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit in September.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Antonio Brown was released from the New England Patriots on Friday in a sudden twist. 

The star wide receiver played just one game with the Patriots.

The move continues what has been a wild, tumultuous year for Brown, who was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Oakland Raiders in March, then demanded out from the Raiders in September, then signed with the Patriots.

The Patriots released a statement on Twitter, saying they appreciated Brown's hard work but decided to move in a different direction.

In September, Brown was accused of sexual assault and rape by a physical trainer in a lawsuit. He denied the allegations.

A Sports Illustrated report in September also uncovered an account of sexual misconduct by Brown, in which he approached a painter in his house wearing nothing but a cloth.

In a series of text messages uncovered by Sports Illustrated and sent to the NFL on Thursday, Brown and a group of friends appeared to intimidate and threaten the painter, who remained anonymous, for her account in the original SI report.