“Well, the history has changed since that statement,” Arians said.
An NFL investigation found that Brown and third-year safety Mike Edwards had turned in fake vaccination cards, a violation of NFL rules and a federal crime.
But the Bucs thought Brown showed enough last year to warrant his return to the team, describing him as a “model citizen.” He immersed himself in the team culture and was focused.
Off the field, his felony probation stemming from the assault of a South Florida moving truck driver in January 2020 was terminated one year early, in June 2021, because of good behavior.
However, Brown was publicly accused last month by Steven Ruiz, his former live-in chef, of producing the fake vaccination card after Brown failed to pay Ruiz $10,000 he was owed when Brown attempted to renegotiate his bill.
The Bucs had signed Brown on the heels of an eight-game suspension last year, under similar circumstances to the one the Bucs face now.
Asked what the decision-making process was like for him, knowing that some might question how many chances Brown is owed given his disciplinary history, Arians responded, “I could give a s— what they think.