NFL Raiders And Coach Fined, Docked Pick For Violation of COVID-19 Policy

The National Football League gave its warning, and it’s made an example out of the Las Vegas Raiders and head coach Joe Gruden by issuing a $650,000 fine and docking their 6th round draft pick.

According to the Associated Press, there were repeated violations of the league’s COVID-19 guidelines, and now the team faces the consequences.

The tip comes from an anonymous source close to the incident, saying that the team itself has been fined $500,000, and the coach will forfeit $150,000. This comes from how the team responded to Trent Brown’s recent positive test for the virus. To add insult to injury, now the team will lose its 6th draft pick.

The team will likely push for an appeal of the NFL’s decision.

Despite already being punished multiple times for the same reason–for $1,215,000–the team still hasn’t learned its lesson. The Raiders aren’t the only team in the league, but they are the first to have their draft pick stripped.

Last month Brown tested positive; before that Damon Arnette tested positive and the team was told to follow an “intensive” protocol after Arnette’s confirmed case. But Brown was seen on October 9, a day before his positive test, not wearing a mask or socially distancing from other players.

Brown’s case caused problems within the team, with four linemen missing practice before, after coming back from isolation, the players played in the game against Tampa Bay, losing 45-20.

The team also lost their safety for that game, Johnathan Abram, because of his close connection with Brown.