Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians: Antonio Brown decision 'could go either way'

Tampa Bay Buccaneers star wide receiver Antonio Brown and safety Mike Edwards are completing their three-game suspensions for purposely misrepresenting their COVID-19 vaccination statuses after the NFL determined earlier this month they used fake vaccination cards. Neither man can participate in this coming Sunday's matchup against the New Orleans Saints, and head coach Bruce Arians told reporters Monday he hadn't yet determined if he would welcome Brown back or move on from the 33-year-old. 

Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Arians suggested during a Tuesday appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show" that he's still undecided on the matter. 

"It could go either way right now; it really could," Arians said of Brown's future. The reigning Super Bowl champion coach added the call will be made "probably later in this week." 

In the past, Brown has had a friend on the Tampa Bay roster in Tom Brady, but the seven-time Super Bowl champion and company currently sit at 10-3 and have won four straight games without the receiver. Even before his ban, Brown hadn't played since he first suffered an ankle injury on Oct. 14. 

Arians theoretically could sit Brown as an unused asset through the playoffs to keep him from joining an opposing contending club, or he could embrace forgiveness only for the upcoming postseason tournament. Brown and Edwards are now reportedly considered legitimately vaccinated against COVID-19, so perhaps Arians is simply sending a message via his comments that any further missteps will not be tolerated regardless of the Buccaneers' lofty goals heading into January.