Antonio Brown Fake-Vax Card Complaint Attracts NFL Surveillance

In response to allegations that the star of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Antonio Brown used a fake COVID-19 vaccination tag to circumvent the NFL’s safety protocols, the league announced on Friday that it is opening an investigation into recipients’ vaccine status across the country. . “We are aware of the report and have contacted the club. We will look into the matter,” said NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy told CNN. “None of the clubs reported any problems during the verification process,” McCarthy added, before noting that “any attempt by team staff or players to use forged cards or Fraud will be reviewed according to the individual conduct policy. Also, it is a federal criminal offense.”

The federation’s pandemic safety measures stipulate that every team is responsible for verifying the immunization status of all their team members, as unvaccinated players and coaches must follow a more rigorous set of guidelines. The accusations against Brown were first brought to light by the player’s former live chef, Steven Ruiz, who told Tampa Bay Times Brown’s girlfriend, Cydney Moreau, asked him to get a “COVID card” for the couple in July. “JNJ shot. Ab said he will give you $500,” Moreau allegedly wrote in a text message. While Ruiz said he couldn’t provide them, the cook claimed that he later witnessed Brown show off a fraudulent vaccination card he obtained elsewhere. Ruiz talked to Tampa Bay Times after his relationship with Brown fell apart after the player allegedly failed to pay him $10,000 owed to the chef. Based on Sports Illustrated, Brown is said to have a history of outstanding debt. (Brown didn’t reply Tampa Bay Times’ message left on his cell phone.)

Brown’s attorney, Sean Burstyn, released a statement denying Ruiz’s claims: “Mr. Brown confirmed to me that he’s been vaccinated and, if booster shots are ultimately recommended, he’ll be happy to broadcast it live on TV. He was happy to turn this into an opportunity to campaign for vaccine safety and was a bit baffled that the source of this story admitted to attempting to buy and resell fake immunization cards.” Burstyn went on to say that Brown is “healthy, vaccinated and ready to win another Super Bowl” and called the report a “baseless, hateful tabloid rumor.” For the Buccaneers, the team speak it “received completed immunization cards” from all of its players and “submitted the necessary information to the NFL through a process established in accordance with league policy. All immunization cards were reviewed by Buccaneers staff and no abnormalities were noted.”

The booming business of fake vaccine cards has affected other professional leagues. In the NHL, the left winger of the San Jose Sharks Evander Kane take 21-match unpaid match suspension “for violating” the league’s COVID-19 protocols. And in recent months, several people selling fake vaccine cards have been caught in the US, including New Jersey women. Jasmine Clifford who is facing? charge for about 250 smithings via her Instagram account @AntiVaxMomma. To add legitimacy, Clifford’s alleged mastermind entered the names of some of her clients into a vaccination database in New York.

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