Super Bowl champion Antonio Brown is in the crosshairs of controversy yet again. The Tampa Bay Times has reported that Brown obtained a fake vaccine card and submitted it to the NFL.
The report in question revolves around the testimony of Brown's former personal chef Steven Ruiz. He told the Tampa Bay Times that Brown offered him $500 to get a Johnson & Johnson vaccine card. Ruiz was unable to get a card, but he alleges that Brown pursued getting a fake vaccine card on his own. A few weeks later, the personal chef claims Brown obtained cards for himself and his girlfriend, Cyd Moreau. ESPN reports that Ruiz presented this information about Brown after the wide receiver allegedly failed to pay him over $10,000 for his service.
All parties involved in reviewing Brown's vaccine card review have refuted these allegations. Moreau has also refuted Ruiz's accusations and said that she does not know the chef.
"[We] received completed vaccination cards from all Tampa Bay Buccaneers players," a spokesperson for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers told ESPN.
"All vaccination cards were reviewed by Buccaneers personnel and no irregularities were observed."
Brown's attorney, Jenna Laine, added that the Super Bowl champion would volunteer to take a booster shot on television.
"If Antonio's doctors and the guidelines require a booster shot, then at that time, he'll be happy to do it live on TV and everyone can come watch," Laine told ESPN.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy has stated that the league is "aware of the report and have been in contact with the club." Submitting a fake vaccine card would violate the NFL's personal conduct policy. It is also a federal criminal offense.
Brown and the Buccaneers are set to play the New York Giants on Monday Night Football in three days. He is still scheduled to take the field.
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