The famous "Las Vegas Sign", located on the south end of the Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas fined, stripped of draft pick, due to COVID-19 violations

NFL

The Las Vegas Raiders and head coach Jon Gruden have been fined by the National Football League due to repeated violations of COVID-19 protocols for the 2020 season.  In addition to fines, adding up to $650,000, the NFL took a sixth-round draft pick in the 2021 draft away from Las Vegas.

Gruden’s fine is $150,000 with the fine for the Raiders at $500,000, as the league specifically noted how the team handled a positive coronavirus test from offensive tackle Trent Brown in the month of October.  An appeal is expected from the Raiders pertaining to the punishments, first reported by Yahoo Sports.

The punishment is not the first for Las Vegas from the NFL for COVID-19 violations this season, as the $650,000 brings the total against the Raiders to over $1.2 million this season.  The stripping away of the draft pick is the first such penalty of that severity this season.

Photo credit – Guido Coppa / UnSplash.com / Las Vegas, NV