The Las Vegas Raiders have been in the news for all the wrong reasons recently. That’s primarily due to multiple violations of the NFL COVID-19 policy. We focused on a report earlier that the Raiders could be docked both draft picks and fined a hefty amount for said violations.
That’s now apparently come to fruition.
Related: If you’re a fan of the Raiders, check out #RaiderNation rumors, rankings, and news here.
Las Vegas Raiders stripped of NFL Draft pick, fined for COVID-19 violations
The story is by now well known around the NFL world. These Raiders were previously fined after multiple members of the team violated both the NFL-mandated COVID-19 protocols and local protocols in the Vegas area.
That’s in no way the end of it.
- Raiders head coach Jon Gruden was fined for failing to wear a mask during a Week 2 game against the New Orleans Saints.
- Entire Raiders starting offensive line was sent home before Week 7 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following Trent Brown’s positive COVID-19 test. Reports indicated that Brown himself did not follow NFL protocols before contracting the virus.
This represents the first time an NFL team has been docked a draft pick for violating COVID-19 protocols. Previously, the Tennessee Titans were fined a whopping $350,000.
All of this comes amid an ongoing outbreak of the virus within the NFL world. In fact, that impacted Thursday night’s game between the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers.
As for the Raiders, head coach Jon Gruden has been pretty darn skeptical of the NFL’s policies relating to the virus. That obviously has not made him many friends within the league office in New York City.
What we do know is that further violations of the league’s protocols will lead to increased discipline levied in the Raiders’ direction. For now, that includes Gruden being fined multiple times and a loss of a late-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.