Antonio Brown, WR for the Tampa Bay Bucs, was banned three games for a COVID-19 infraction.

Antonio Brown, a wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was banned three games by the NFL for breaking the NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 rules, the league said on Thursday.

Three players, including Brown, were discovered by the league and players’ union to have lied about their immunization records. Earlier this month, Brown’s former personal chef revealed that the wide receiver had received a phony COVID-19 immunization card during the summer.

Both Buccaneers free-agent wide receiver John Franklin III and backup safety Mike Edwards, who Tampa Bay dismissed in August, were both banned for three games. The NFL claims that all three players accepted their punishment and will not file an appeal.

The suspensions of Edwards and Brown are unpaid. When the Buccaneers play the Carolina Panthers on December 26, both players will be able to return to the starting lineup. According to sources who spoke with ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the NFL and NFLPA discussed the suspension’s duration prior to its release on Thursday.

A source informed ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that all three players have now received vaccinations and have acknowledged misconduct to the league throughout the investigation.

The league and players’ union released a statement saying, “The NFL-NFLPA jointly restate their commitment and further underscore the necessity of strict adherence to the guidelines to ensure the well-being of everyone involved with the NFL.”

According to the league’s inquiry, Brown carried a forged vaccination card to training camp. However, as soon as he got there, he heard that carrying one may land him in trouble, so he decided to get vaccinated, people informed Graziano.

According to a statement from Brown’s lawyer, Sean Burstyn, Brown “continues to endorse the vaccination for any person for whom it is suitable.”

“The NFL made its decision and, rather than enduring the protracted and disruptive process of contesting the result, Mr. Brown resolved this matter expeditiously and he intends to utilize this opportunity to tend to his ankle issue,” Burstyn stated. “When he returns in week 16, Mr. Brown will be inspired, well-rested, and in the best form of his life.”

Due to an ankle and heel injury that has kept him out since Week 7, Brown is not expected to participate in the next two games, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.

Wide receiver Brett Perriman was added by the Bucs to their active roster on Friday, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus, who spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Earlier this month, Chef Steven Ruiz said that Brown had contacted him throughout the summer to get a fictitious vaccination card with the help of his girlfriend, model Cydney Moreau. A few weeks after Ruiz failed to obtain a phony card for Brown, the wide receiver showed him the ones he had for Moreau and himself, which Brown said he had bought.

Brown got his phony vaccination card from a Buccaneers teammate, Ruiz said to ESPN. The second player’s identity was withheld by Ruiz.

Burstyn refuted Brown’s claim of obtaining a forged vaccination card.

When questioned about his vaccination card on the Richard Sherman Podcast on Wednesday, Brown stated, “That’s the sad part.” The national motto is “you are innocent until proved guilty,” but in reality, you are guilty until you prove your innocence since everyone will exaggerate everything that is said, and if you speak out, you will just dig yourself more holes because now it’s like… I came to understand that accomplishment is the response to criticism. When others criticize you, you don’t have to worry or reply.

Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians stated the organization performed its “due diligence” in checking players’ vaccination cards one day after Ruiz’s original accusation, saying, “I truly don’t think it’s a story.”

“We value the League’s prompt handling of this issue and acknowledge the significance of the existing health and safety procedures. “All league COVID-19 protocols will be implemented going forward,” the Buccaneers stated in a statement on Thursday.

There is no doubt regarding the validity of the vaccination cards held by around 80% of the NFL’s immunized players, since sources told Graziano that the shots were administered at team facilities. According to insiders, the NFL also discovered that there is no discernible difference in the positive rate between athletes vaccinated at club facilities and those immunized elsewhere. For this reason, the league does not worry about a widespread problem with phony vaccination cards.

The Buccaneers’ motto for the 2020 campaign was “fight the infection.” Arians were the second NFL club to do so when they announced in September that all of the players and personnel had gotten the COVID-19 vaccination.

Although Edwards was compelled to wear a mask when he spoke with media at the start of training camp, Brown refrained from discussing his immunization status in public. When asked at the time about his immunization history, Edwards responded, “I really don’t want to speak about immunizations.” That’s just the way things are. Really, I don’t want to go into it.

When asked if he might reconsider, Edwards responded, “I’m not sure. We’ll see. Edwards stopped wearing a mask when he spoke with reporters after that.

In last week’s victory over the Indianapolis Colts, Edwards, who has lined up for the Atlanta Falcons as a nickelback and safety, forced a fumble and now has three interceptions to lead the club. After delivering two pick-sixes against the in Week 2, he was awarded NFC Defensive Player of the Week.