Antonio Brown, NFL star and Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver has been suspended without pay for three games as punishment following the scandal of him being fake and using a counterfeit vaccination card to prove that he’d been vaccinated against Covid-19.
NFL, the National Football League announced his suspension. As per NFL Antonio Brown and two other players won’t be playing for the next 3 weeks. will be ineligible to play for the next three weeks.
On the following matter, the league and the NFLPA players union issued a joint statement, mentioning the three players, Brown, Buccaneers safety Mike Edwards and free agent receiver John Franklin III had accepted their suspensions of ineligible to play for the next three weeks and wouldn’t file appeals.
An NFL-NFLPA review of accusations against Brown, Edwards, and Franklin sourced that the players violated Covid-19 safety protocols by misrepresenting their vaccination status. The NFL Covid19 regulations include players who don’t get inoculated need to follow strict protocols, like wearing masks, maintaining social distancing. If needed a longer quarantine period after being tested positive for the virus.
The league and union said, ‘The protocols were jointly developed working with our respective experts to ensure that we are practicing and playing football as safe 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.’
The allegation on Brown of forging a fake vaccine card and using it to continue his games to avoid protocols was made by his chef, Steven Ruiz. Brown was concerned about how a Covid-19 vaccination would affect his body so he offered Ruiz to get him fake proof of vaccination. Ruiz disclosed this as he was unable to get Brown to pay him $10,000 that he’s owed, but getting extra money for wrongdoings.
The Buccaneers issued a statement saying the team said it had reviewed all vaccination cards provided by team employees and found “no irregularities” in defense of allegations against Brown.
Not before quite a long Brown was tested positive for the virus in September, causing him to miss one game. His lawyer, Sean Burstyn, last month said Brown was vaccinated.
Brown is the top-ranking player who ranks third among all active NFL players. He has been selected to play in seven Pro Bowls and appeared in two Super Bowls, earning a championship ring when Tampa Bay beat the Kansas City Chiefs last February. He had missed about half of last season for multiple violations of the NFL’s conduct policy.