The NFL has fined the Las Vegas Raiders $500,000, coach Jon Gruden $150,000 and also took a 2021 sixth-round pick from the team for repeated COVID-19 protocol violations late in October, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Sources told ESPN’s Dan Graziano that the penalties, which were first reported by Yahoo, are the result of “brazen and repeated” violations of the protocols that continued in spite of the warnings. More severe penalties could result if there are further violations, sources said.
Among the violations by the team since the season began that led to the new punishments were:
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Gruden has not consistently worn a mask.
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Players attended a large indoor gathering at a public charity event in late September.
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Team allowed an unauthorized person into its locker room after a Monday night win against New Orleans.
The hefty punishment comes only days after the league enhanced its safety guidelines. The NFL and NFLPA on Tuesday released updated COVID-19 protocols after positive game-day tests resulted in several high-risk close contacts. The league now recommends players and personnel members wear masks while on the sidelines.
The Raiders and Gruden were previously fined by the NFL in September for breaking COVID-19 protocols. Gruden was fined $100,000 and the Raiders $250,000 because Gruden was not consistently wearing his mask while on the sideline for the Monday night game against the Saints in Week 2.
Tight end Darren Waller, as well as nine other teammates, were fined last month for breaking coronavirus protocols at a public charity event. The players did not wear masks for most of the event and quarterback Derek Carr was photographed taking pictures with several mask-less attendees.
