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Vaccine drama in the NFL does not start and end with Aaron Rodgers.
In a potentially bombshell text message exchange obtained by the Tampa Bay Times, Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown is accused by his former private chef of acquiring a fake vaccine card. The Los Angeles chef, Steven Ruiz, also says that the 33-year-old Brown owes him $10,000.
The Times shared a screenshot of text messages between Brown’s girlfriend, model Cydney Moreau, and Ruiz in which she offered to pay him $500 for a Johnson & Johnson vaccine card on behalf of Brown. The July 2 text exchange was as follows:
Moreau: “Can you get the COVID cards?”
Ruiz: “I can try”
Moreau: “JNJ shot. Ab said he would give you $500”
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Ruiz said he was unable to get a vaccine card for Brown in July, and a few weeks later Ruiz said Brown showed him fake vaccination cards the receiver allegedly bought for he and his girlfriend. Brown had told people he was worried about negative effects from the vaccine, per the report.
Ruiz told the Times that Tom Brady’s trainer, Alex Guerrero, provided treatment for Brown and photographed his vaccine card to provide to the team’s head trainer, Bobby Slater. Ruiz did not believe that Guerrero was aware the card was fake.
Brown’s attorney, Sean Burstyn, denied that Brown obtained a fake vaccine card.
“Antonio Brown appreciates the severity of the pandemic, which is why he got the vaccine and supports everyone for whom it is advisable to get the vaccine,” Burstyn texted the Tampa Bay Times. “Coronavirus has hit close to home as it took him out of a game. He is healthy, vaccinated, and ready to win another Super Bowl. One of the worst parts of the pandemic has been a movement to cast doubt on our country’s vaccination programs with baseless, vindictive tabloid gossip.”
The Buccaneers said in a statement Thursday there were no issues with any vaccine cards they received from players.
“After an extensive educational process conducted throughout our organization this past offseason highlighting the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines, we received completed vaccination cards from all Tampa Bay Buccaneers players and submitted the required information to the NFL through the established process in accordance with league policy,” the team’s statement said. “All vaccination cards were reviewed by Buccaneers personnel and no irregularities were observed.”
Brown tested positive for COVID-19 in September, and missed the Buccaneers’ game against the Rams. An ESPN story at the time referred to him as being fully vaccinated, and Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said before the season that his team was 100 percent vaccinated. The receiver hasn’t played since Oct. 14 due to a foot injury.
Brown is at least the second professional athlete to be accused of using a fake vaccine card. San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane was suspended for 21 days for violating the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols after he was investigated for lying about his vaccination status.
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