Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Antonio Brown Suspended Three Games, Along with Two Other Players For Violating COVID-19 Protocols
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Antonio Brown Suspended Three Games, Along with Two Other Players For Violating COVID-19 Protocols
Three professional football players were suspended for three games by the National Football League (NFL) for violating the league’s COVID-19 protocols.
According to a press release by the NFL, the three players are Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown and safety Mike Edwards, along with former Buccaneers practice squad member, current free agent John Franklin III.
All three players misrepresented their vaccination status under the NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 Protocols. Based on the findings of a joint NFL-NFLPA review into the recent allegations, it was discovered that they violated the protocols.
Each of them is suspended for a total of three games which start immediately. In the case of Franklin, when he does sign onto a team, he will have to serve the three games before playing.
In a joint statement, the NFL and NFLPA said: “The health and safety of players and personnel is our top priority. 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.”
NFL.com has reported that Brown and Edwards will be eligible to return to play for the Buccaneers for their scheduled Week 16 game against the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 26.
The Buccaneers also released a statement pertaining to the suspensions.
“We appreciate the League’s timely handling of this matter and recognize the importance of the health and safety protocols that have been established. We will continue to implement all league COVID-19 protocols.”
The investigation into the players started after a personal chef of Brown accused the wide receiver of obtaining a face vaccination card over the summer.
Last month, the Tampa Bay Times reported that, according to Brown’s former personal chef, Steven Ruiz, the football player’s model girlfriend, Cydney Moreau, contacted Ruiz over the summer to get Brown a fake vaccination card for $500. He wanted the bogus card to serve as proof that he received the Johnson & Johnson shot.
Ruiz provided proof via text messages of the communication between him and Moreau. He was also offered $500 for the fake card.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Antonio Brown Suspended Three Games, Along with Two Other Players For Violating COVID-19 Protocols
