Report: Tampa Bay WR Antonio Brown obtained fake COVID-19 vaccination card

TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown is accused of obtaining a fake COVID-19 vaccination card, according to a published report.

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According to the Tampa Bay Times, Brown’s former personal chef, Steven Ruiz, was asked to procure the card during the summer. The request was made to Ruiz by Brown’s girlfriend, model Cydney Moreau, the newspaper reported.

Brown has denied the report through his attorney.

The bogus card would note that Brown received the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine, according to the Times.

Moreau allegedly reached out to Ruiz by text message, noting that “Ab said he would give you $500,” the newspaper reported.

While Brown is not mentioned specifically by name in the text messages, his nickname to friends, coaches and teammates is “AB.”

Ruiz said he was unable to acquire a fake card for Brown, according to the Times. He noted that several weeks later, Brown showed him vaccination cards for himself and Moreau that he said he bought.

Ruiz said he went public with the accusation after Brown failed to pay $10,000 owed to him, the newspaper reported.

The Buccaneers, in a statement, said they had “received completed vaccination cards from all Tampa Bay Buccaneers players.”

Brown’s attorney, Sean Burstyn, told ESPN on Thursday that Brown is vaccinated.

“If Antonio’s doctors and the guidelines require a booster shot, then at that time, he’ll be happy to do it live on TV and everyone can come watch,” Burstyn told the sports network.

Moreau denied the accusation and told the Times that she did not know Ruiz.

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said in a statement that league representatives were “aware of the report and have been in contact with the club. We will review the matter.”

Teams were told on July 22 to scrutinize cards, given the possibility that a player might use a fake vaccine card, NBC Sports reported.

Brown missed the Buccaneers’ Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams after testing positive for COVID-19, ESPN reported. He was activated the following week but has missed the past three games with an ankle injury, according to the sports network.

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