AP source: NFL fines Saints $500,000, Patriots $350,000

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By BARRY WILNER

The NFL has fined the New Orleans Saints $500,000 and stripped them of a 2021 seventh-round draft pick for violating league COVID-19 protocols, a person with direct knowledge of the discipline told The Associated Press on Sunday.

The New England Patriots were fined $350,000 for similar violations, the person said, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither the league nor the teams have announced the fines or loss of draft pick.

New Orleans was fined as a repeat offender; Sean Payton previously was docked $150,000 and the team $250,000 because the head coach failed to properly wear a face covering during a game against the Raiders in Week 2. The more recent issue with the Saints came after a Week 9 win over Tampa Bay when the team’s celebrations included players not wearing masks while in close proximity to each other. The celebrations were captured on video by some players and posted to social media.



New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton watches from the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/nfl-new-orleans-saints-new-england-patriots-football-coronavirus-pandemic-9a2ab34ddc4a6d6b1fd69b6b5ac4a105

[walkingman]

1. Sounds like the football world has more money than brains.

[luv2fly]

2. The Patriots? Noooo

Not Bellicheat and his boys... unthinkable.

[mr_lebowski]

3. The players play the freaking game w/o masks why the f*** does it matter if their 'celebrations'

done are without masks?

I mean what the hell are they even talking about?

[BumRushDaShow]

5. In this case it probably has to do with the amount of time in proximity with others and exposure

On the field, they spend a brief amount of time lined up, and then with the snap, start moving to their play positions, where that movement/running continues for some x amount of time until the end of the play, after which they stop and might walk around for a bit before they move into position again to line up for the next play.

Contrast this with when they are partying - they are often standing or sitting together for an extended period of time talking and eating and drinking, with little movement ("social distancing" ) during those extended periods.

[ssgbryan]

4. Broncos game will be interesting today

All 3 quarterbacks are in COVID-19 quarantine.

[DeminPennswoods]

6. From the wayback machine

In 1965, Baltimore Colts qb Johnny Unitas and his back up were both out. RB Tom Matte stepped under center for the Colts for not 1, but 3 games.

https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2016/09/30/tom-matte-baltimore-colts-backup

[rsdsharp]

10. I remember the playoff game between the Packers and Colts.

It took place the day after Christmas 1965. I watched it with my best friend in his den. We were 10. Late in the game his father came in to watch. His mother was anxious to go to dinner with friends, and he told her not to worry, there was only a minute left in the game.

Packers kicker Don Chandler tied the game at the end of regulation with a field goal that resulted in a rule change. The kick was actually slightly wide to the right. Chandler kicked the ground in frustration thinking he missed. The problem was that the uprights were shorter in those days, and the kick was high, so the officials couldn’t tell that the ball hadn’t gone through the uprights. They were raised soon after.

Chandler’s kick tied the game, and it went into overtime, while Jim’s father sat down to watch and his mother fumed they were already late for dinner. Good memories.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Practice Squad WR Is At QB

Played QB in college, somewhere in the southeast.
I heard he's thrown one pass in 4 years, but never taken a snap at center since college.
I think that game is going to be a joke.

[EarthFirst]

8. A short lived NFL boycott to follow?

I’m sure the COVIDIOTS they’re gnashing their teeth and binding their knuckles over this...

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. This Covid stuff will end soon for the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB

Anyone think the health care workers will really be first to get the vaccines? No, it'll be pro sports, senior government in all three branches, big donors, etc.

Then maybe healthcare workers.

Money talks.

[aggiesal]

11. And here's your proof ...

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/as-thousands-of-athletes-get-coronavirus-tests-nurses-wonder-what-about-us/

This month, registered nurses gathered in Los Angeles to protest the fact that UCLA’s athletic department conducted 1,248 tests in a single week while health-care workers at UCLA hospitals were denied testing.