Antonio Brown.Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty
The NFL is investigating accusations that Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiverAntonio Brownobtained a fake COVID-19 vaccination card.
“We are aware of the report and have been in contact with the club. We will review the matter,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said in a statement to PEOPLE on Friday.
The investigation comes after Brown’s former live-in cheftoldThe Tampa Bay Timesthat the player had allegedly purchased a fake vaccination card because he was worried about the potential negative side effects of the vaccine on his body.
However, Brown’s attorney, Sean Burstyn, maintained that the wide receiver is fully vaccinated in a statement to PEOPLE.
The NFL currently does not require players to be fully vaccinated against COVID, but specific mandates from teams and venues vary due to local city and state laws.
Antonio Brown.Mike Ehrmann/Getty
In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for the Buccaneers said that the team had received vaccine cards from all players and did not find any “irregularities.”
In April, Brownsigned a one-year contract extensionwith the Buccaneers that was worth up to $6.25 million.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians told reporters that Browndeserved a “second chance"when he was initially signed last year. Arians also disputed speculation that Brady — who previously played with Brown for the Patriots — had anything to do with his recruitment.
“I think he’s matured, and I believe in second chances,” Arians told reporters,according toUSA Today. “Everybody wants to say that Tom [Brady] picked him. Tom didn’t have anything to do with it. This was something [Bucs general manager Jason Licht] and I had been talking (about) for a couple weeks, ever since the injuries to our other guys. When the time was right, would we see if we could pull the trigger and fit him in to what we want to get done? And we’ll see. If Antonio does what I think he’s gonna do, I think he’s gonna be fine.”
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
