The Las Vegas Raiders have found themselves in the headlines for violating COVID-19 protocols far too many times for the league office’s liking.
So, finally, ♛it seems as if NFL is handing down a significant punishment:
Sources: will fine the Las Vegas $500,000 & coach Jon Gruden $150,000 and strip the team of a 6th round draft pick for COVID-19 protocol violations related to OT Trent Brown’s positive test in late October. Escalated fines/pick were due to being a “repeat offender”.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson)
Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports reports the Raiders are being slapped with a $500,000 fine and are losing a sixth-round draft pick for violating COVID-19 protocols. Head Coach Jon Gruden is also being handed a $150,000 fine for his part in things. This has been escalating for some time, as the punishment stems from offensive lineman Trent Brown’s positive test in October.
To be clear, the Raiders have been caught in the league’s crosshair for quite some time regarding COVID protocols. Some details from ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Here are some violations, per source:
🏈HC Jon Gruden has not consistently worn a mask.
🏈Players attended a large indoor gathering.
�🌄�Team allowed an unauthorized person into its locker room a﷽fter a game.
Now team has fined half million, Gruden $150k andꦫ loss of a 6th.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
Remember when Gruden faked getting COVID-19 to see how his players would react? Feels like it happened forever ago, doesn’t it?
There are times in life where punishments that are handed down have to deter others. And while fines of $500,000 for a franchise worth billions and $150,000 for a coach with a $100 million contract don’t seem like much, that part about losing a pick will drive GM Mike Mayock and others in the organization mad. Oh, to be a fly on the wall of the next meeting between Gruden and Mayock ….
