NFL suspends Tom Brady's Buccaneers teammates Antonio Brown and Mike Edwards for 3 video games with out pay for mendacity about their COVID-19 vaccination standing
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers extensive receiver Antonio Brown was suspended three video games with out pay on Thursday for misrepresenting his vaccine standing
- Brown's Tampa Bay teammate, security Mike Edwards, and free agent John Franklin III, a former Bucs receiver, had been additionally suspended three video games apiece
- All three bans are efficient instantly. The gamers waived their proper to enchantment
- Brown was beforehand accused by his former chef of attempting to acquire a faux vaccine card to be able to skirt the NFL's guidelines for unvaccinated gamers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers extensive receiver Antonio Brown and two different gamers have been suspended three video games with out pay by the league for misrepresenting their vaccination statuses.
Brown was beforehand accused by his private chef of making an attempt to pay for a faux COVID-19 vaccine card previous to the season in an effort to skirt the NFL's guidelines for unvaccinated gamers.
Together with Brown, considered one of quarterback Tom Brady's favourite targets, two different gamers had been suspended three video games with out pay: Bucs security Mike Edwards and free agent receiver John Franklin III, who was launched by Tampa Bay earlier this yr.
All three suspensions are efficient instantly and the gamers have waived their proper to enchantment.
Brown, Edwards, and Franklin had been all represented by the NFL Gamers Affiliation to evaluation the latest allegations, which weren't specified within the NFL's press launch, aside from to say they misrepresented 'their vaccination standing below the NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 Protocols.'
A subsequent evaluation supported the allegations.
'The well being and security of gamers and personnel is our prime precedence,' the NFL and NFLPA stated in a joint assertion. 'The protocols had been collectively developed working with our respective specialists to make sure that we're training and taking part in soccer as safely as attainable in the course of the ongoing pandemic.
'The NFL-NFLPA collectively reinforce their dedication and additional emphasize the significance of strict adherence to the protocols to guard the well-being of everybody related to the NFL.'
Brown was allegedly concerned about paying his private chef $500 for a faux COVID-19 vaccination card so he may keep away from the league's guidelines for unvaccinated gamers.
Brown's mannequin girlfriend Cydney Moreau allegedly texted Los Angeles-based chef Steven Ruiz asking for a faux card - a violation of federal legislation - on July 2
'Are you able to get the COVID playing cards?' Moreau requested.
'I can strive,' Ruiz replied.
'JNJ shot. Ab stated he would provide you with $500,' Moreau added, expressing desire for a card claiming that Brown received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Ruiz supplied the textual content alternate to the Tampa Bay Occasions, which verified the telephone numbers, after he fell out with the NFL participant over an unpaid $10,000 debt.
The Bucs stated Brown's card handed muster and would not have any irregularities.
'After an in depth academic course of carried out all through our group this previous offseason highlighting the advantages of the COVID-19 vaccines, we acquired accomplished vaccination playing cards from all Tampa Bay Buccaneers gamers and submitted the required data to the NFL by means of the established course of in accordance with league coverage,' learn the Bucs' November assertion. 'All vaccination playing cards had been reviewed by Buccaneers personnel and no irregularities had been noticed.'
