Two weeks ago, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown was accused by his former personal chef of obtaining a fake COVID-19 vaccination card to circumvent the NFL’s health and safety protocols. And at the time, the Buccaneers were awfully fast to clear Brown of any wrongdoing.
They quickly issued a statement that the team reviewed all the vaccination cards of their players and found no “irregularities.” It only took two weeks for that “extensive educational process” to blow up in their face.
On Thursday, the NFL announced that Brown and teammate Mike Edwards would be suspended for three games without pay for misrepresenting their vaccination status.
#Bucs WR Antonio Brown and Mike Edwards have each been suspended without pay for the next three games for misrepresenting their vaccination status under the NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 Protocol. They have accepted the discipline and waived their right of appeal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 2, 2021
It was the NFL’s way of confirming that Brown (and Edwards) indeed submitted fake or forged vaccination cards — a federal crime. Given the Bucs’ statement on Nov. 18, this was an opportunity for the team to condemn what Brown and Edwards did. It was also a chance to apologize for not being diligent in enforcing protocols aimed at keeping players, coaches, their families and everyone they interact with safe during a pandemic.
Basically, it was a chance for the Bucs to take responsibility.
The Bucs, though, were OK with just thanking the league and moving on.
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 2, 2021
As news of Brown’s suspension broke, the Bucs issued a weak statement that didn’t specifically address the topic or even the players. It was an all-time display of laziness from the Bucs’ communications team, and worst of all, it was a straight-up refusal to hold anyone accountable.
When San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane was suspended for his fake vaccination card, the team at least expressed disappointment in what Kane did. The Bucs couldn’t bother to do the same about their own players.
Statement from the San Jose Sharks. pic.twitter.com/P25XxpiJgH
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 18, 2021
Yeah, you know it’s bad when you’re losing to an NHL team on the PR front.
By downplaying the actual suspensions of Brown and Edwards, the Bucs only added to the embarrassment. It was a terrible look, and it shouldn’t be ignored.
