Antonio Brown released by the New England Patriots

The New England Patriots have released wide receiver Antonio Brown, Brown tweeted Friday.

Brown appeared in a single game for the reigning world champions, catching four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.

“The New England Patriots are releasing Antonio Brown. We appreciate the hard work of many people over the past 11 days, but we feel that it is best to move in a different direction at this time,” the team said in a statement Friday.

Brown was acquired by the Patriots on Sept. 7, just one day before New England opened its season. Brown had previously been a member of the Raiders, but he asked for his release before ever playing a snap for the team.

Days after signing Brown, the receiver was hit with a lawsuit that alleged he sexually assaulted and raped a woman. Reports emerged Friday that he threatened the woman who is suing him in a series of text messages.

In addition to the lawsuit, since he was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Raiders in March, Brown has suffered a frostbite on his feet from a cryotherapy chamber, threatened to retire if the NFL did not allow him to wear his preferred helmet, and secretly recorded Raiders head coach John Gruden and posted video of the conversation to social media.

More on this as it develops.