http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10269235/NFL-suspends-Bucs-Antonio-Brown-lying-vaccine-status.html
NFL suspends Tom Brady's Buccaneers teammates Antonio Brown and Mike
Edwards for three games without pay for lying about their COVID-19
vaccination status
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown was suspended
three games without pay on Thursday for misrepresenting his vaccine status
Brown's Tampa Bay teammate, safety Mike Edwards, and free agent
John Franklin III, a former Bucs receiver, were also suspended three
games apiece
All three bans are effective immediately. The players waived their
right to appeal
Brown was previously accused by his former chef of trying to obtain
a fake vaccine card in order to skirt the NFL's rules for unvaccinated
players
Tom Brady and the Bucs host the Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on
Sunday
Brown's lawyer Sean Burstyn has stressed that his client is vaccinated
By ALEX RASKIN SPORTS NEWS EDITOR FOR
DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 16:45 EST, 2 December 2021 | UPDATED: 17:47 EST, 2 December 2021
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown and two other players
have been suspended three games without pay by the league for
misrepresenting their vaccination statuses.
Brown was previously accused by his personal chef of attempting to pay
for a fake COVID-19 vaccine card before the season in an effort to skirt
the NFL's rules for unvaccinated players.
Along with Brown, one of quarterback Tom Brady's favorite targets, two
other players were suspended three games without pay: Bucs safety Mike
Edwards and free agent receiver John Franklin III, who was released by
Tampa Bay earlier this year.
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The league hasn't specified the allegations against the players. An NFL
spokesman did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for
clarification on the accusations against Brown, Edwards, and Franklin III.
The suspensions are effective immediately and the players have waived
their right to appeal. Franklin can only serve his suspension if and
when he is signed by another team.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown was suspended three
games without pay on Thursday for misrepresenting his vaccine status
+6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown was suspended three
games without pay on Thursday for misrepresenting his vaccine status
Bucs safety Mike Edwards
+6
Free agent wide receiver John Franklin III, who previously played for
the Bucs
+6
Brown's Tampa Bay teammate, safety Mike Edwards (left), and free agent
John Franklin III (right), a former Buccaneers receiver, were also
suspended three games apiece. Franklin can only be forced to serve that
suspension if a team signs him
Brown, Edwards, and Franklin III were all represented by the NFL Players
Association to review the recent allegations, which were not specified
in the NFL's press release, other than to say they misrepresented 'their
vaccination status under the NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 Protocols.'
A subsequent review supported the allegations.
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'The health and safety of players and personnel is our top priority,'
the NFL and NFLPA said in a joint statement. 'The protocols were jointly
developed working with our respective experts to ensure that we are
practicing and playing football as safely as possible during the ongoing
pandemic.
'The NFL-NFLPA jointly reinforce their commitment and further emphasize
the importance of strict adherence to the protocols to protect the
well-being of everyone associated with the NFL.'
Brown's former personal chef, Steven Ruiz, claimed Brown's girlfriend,
model Cydney Moreau (pictured), texted him, asking for fake COVID-19
vaccination cards
+6
Brown's former personal chef, Steven Ruiz, claimed Brown's girlfriend,
model Cydney Moreau (pictured), texted him, asking for fake COVID-19
vaccination cards
Brown was allegedly interested in paying his personal chef $500 for a
fake COVID-19 vaccination card so he could avoid the league's rules for
unvaccinated players.
Brown's model girlfriend Cydney Moreau allegedly texted Los
Angeles-based chef Steven Ruiz asking for a fake card - a violation of
federal law - on July 2
Antonio Ruiz shared the story with the Tampa Bay Times after falling out
with Brown over a $10,000 debt
Antonio Ruiz shared the story with the Tampa Bay Times after falling out
with Brown over a $10,000 debt
'Can you get the COVID cards?' Moreau asked.
'I can try,' replied Ruiz, who had been working for Brown.
'JNJ shot. Ab said he would give you $500,' Moreau added, expressing
preference for a card claiming that Brown got the one-shot Johnson &
Johnson vaccine.
Ruiz provided the text exchange to the Tampa Bay Times, which verified
the phone numbers, after he fell out with Brown over an unpaid $10,000 debt.
The Bucs said Brown's card passed muster and doesn't have any
irregularities.
'After an extensive educational process conducted throughout our
organization this past offseason highlighting the benefits of the
COVID-19 vaccines, we received completed vaccination cards from all
Tampa Bay Buccaneers players and submitted the required information to
the NFL through the established process in accordance with league
policy,' read the Bucs' November statement. 'All vaccination cards were
reviewed by Buccaneers personnel and no irregularities were observed.'
Brady and the Buccaneers host the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James
Stadium on Sunday
+6
Brady and the Buccaneers host the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James
Stadium on Sunday
In his own November statement, Brown's lawyer Sean Burstyn stressed that
his client is vaccinated.
'Antonio Brown appreciates the severity of the pandemic, which is why he
got the vaccine and supports everyone for whom it is advisable to get
the vaccine,' Burstyn told the Times.
'Coronavirus has hit close to home as it took him out of a game. He is
healthy, vaccinated, and ready to win another Super Bowl.'
The NFL does not require players to be vaccinated, but the league has
set out rules for teams with unvaccinated players that penalize them,
and the opposing teams, with hefty fines for lost games due to outbreaks.
Unvaccinated players are facing many of the same protocols they had last
season, before the vaccines were released, including daily testing as
well as mask and social distancing requirements.
More than 93 percent of all NFL players are vaccinated according to the
league.
Brady and the Buccaneers host the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James
Stadium on Sunday. In just five games this season, Brown has recorded 29
catches for 418 yards and two touchdowns. The two connected five times
for 22 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl LV back in February.
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