NFL news: Patriots release receiver Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown was released by the Patriots on Friday after a second woman accused him of sexual misconduct. New England is the third team in seven months to tire of the off-field behavior that has overshadowed his accomplishments as one of the NFL's most prolific receivers.

The Patriots announced the move in a statement e-mailed to reporters, three minutes after Brown posted on Twitter, "Thank you for the opportunity @Patriots #GoWinIt."

Brown has been accused of rape in a lawsuit by a former trainer. He also faces allegations that he exposed himself to an artist he hired to paint a mural at his home. Brown has denied the accusations.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady both declined to comment on Brown during their scheduled media availability Friday. Belichick said during the morning that the team was looking into "some things," then cut off his news conference when reporters continued to ask about Brown.

Asked if he expected Brown to play in Sunday's game against the New York Jets, Belichick said, "He's on the roster."

About five hours later, he wasn't.

In the e-mail attributed to "a Patriots spokesperson," the team said: "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."

Second-year quarterback Kyle Allen will start for Carolina on Sunday against the Cardinals in place of Cam Newton, who was ruled out because of a mid-foot sprain.

Newton aggravated a left foot injury in Carolina's 20-14 loss to the Buccaneers on Sept. 12 and has not practiced since. It will be only the sixth game Newton has missed during his nine-year NFL career because of injury.

Allen, an Arizona native, is 1-0 as Carolina's starter, winning last year in Week 17 at New Orleans.

In other injury news:

• San Francisco re-signed tackle Sam Young, who was with the team in training camp, after losing starting left tackle Joe Staley to a broken leg last week. Staley is expected to miss at least six weeks. The team also put receiver Trent Taylor on injured reserve.

• Los Angeles Rams starting tight end Tyler Higbee will miss Sunday's game at Cleveland with a bruised chest.

• Atlanta will be without punter Matt Bosher for Sunday's game at Indianapolis. Bosher injured his right groin during pregame warm-ups before last weekend's victory over Philadelphia.