Antonio Brown’s Future With Tampa Bay Uncertain Following COVID Suspension
Antonio Brown’s future with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is uncertain following a three game suspension for misrepresenting his COVID-19 vaccination status.
Bucs head coach Bruce Arians said the star wide receiver’s status with the team will be addressed when he’s eligible to return after his suspension, which fueled speculation.
According to NFL.com, one source said no decision has been made on whether Brown will return to the Bucs after his suspension while another said it’s possible the team keeps Brown on its roster – with the insinuation being it’s possible they don’t.
Bucs safety Mike Edwards was also penalized for misrepresenting his vaccination status. He and Browns’ punishments may be a wake-up call for any players who have also misrepresented their statuses and let any potential violators know there would be consequences.
Brown accepted his suspension without appealing it. The NFL and NFL Players Association were in lockstep on the investigation, with the union’s goal to protect its players as much as possible.
The NFL initially considered a much longer suspension at Brown, originally floating 6-8 games. The NFL then looked at several things before Brown came clean, calling the clinic where he claimed to get his vaccination and looking at how the clinic operates before coming to the conclusion that something was wrong. Presented with the facts, Brown agreed to the suspension.
