Antonio Brown wants to be signed before having ankle surgery

Seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Brown hasn't faced a live NFL defense since he dramatically exited the field when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced the New York Jets on Jan. 2. 

Brown has repeatedly insisted his actions that fateful afternoon stemmed from the fact he was unable to continue playing due to a setback related to the ankle injury he first suffered in October. He also said the Buccaneers knew he was hurting that day. It was thought the 33-year-old would undergo offseason surgery to attempt to be ready for Week 1 this coming September, but it now appears that's not the case. 

Brown has told TMZ Sports he's waiting for confirmation that a team will sign him before he goes under the knife this spring or summer. 

"I need to get my ankle fixed, but I just want to make sure I got an obligation or a commitment from a team," he explained. "It’s a lot for a guy to go do surgery without an idea of where you gonna work, or who you going to work for."

Brown continued that he believes he "can put up big numbers" and added he wants to be back on the field this fall.

"I'm a player first," he said. "I couldn't even be in this position without being a football player. So I never want to take that for granted. I would love to continue my career. I got a lot of game left in me." 

As Mike Florio noted for Pro Football Talk, logic suggests no team will promise Brown anything knowing he needs surgery that, theoretically, could sideline him indefinitely if he encounters any physical complications during his recovery, even if that club believes he won't "quit" in front of a worldwide audience. 

Critics may, of course, claim Brown's latest words show he doesn't actually want to play anytime soon.