The Saints are once again under fire for violating the league’s COVID-19 protocols. As Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports, the NFL is expected to discipline the Saints in the coming days after videos of the team’s postgame celebration of last Sunday’s win over the Bucs — videos that revealed protocol violations — were posted to social media.
New Orleans thrashed division-rival Tampa Bay on the road in primetime last week, so there was plenty to celebrate. But in the video that was posted to the Saints’ official Twitter account following the game, and in videos that players posted to their own social media accounts, multiple players were seen not wearing masks.
While players are not required to wear masks during the game, they are required to do so in the locker room. So it’s clear that the team was in violation of protocols, and since the Saints now qualify as repeat offenders, their punishment could be stiff.
After the club’s Week 2 loss to the Raiders, head coach Sean Payton was fined $100K and the Saints were fined $250K because Payton was not wearing his mask during the game. The Raiders themselves were recently stripped of a sixth-round pick for multiple violations of COVID-19 protocols, and it’s possible that New Orleans could face a similar fate.
At the very least, the Saints can probably expect another hefty fine. Along with the forfeiture of a sixth-round draft choice, Las Vegas was docked $500K for its most recent transgressions.
I didn’t see the videos, but the penalties might not be as bad as Vegas. It depends on if they were the 5 yard, or 15 yard kind.
Was it the videos of them parting in the locker room?
This is silly. I appreciate the leagues efforts but it is not realistic to assume they are going to head right to the locker room and out masks on after a huge win. It’s like asking people if they go to a restaurant to keep their masks on while they’re eating?
that comparison isn’t even close. one makes sense cause it’s not possible to wear a mask and eat at the same time. players certainly can go to the locker room and put on a mask.
What restaurant says that? None. And if employer requires you do something..yes you are required to and not unrealistic.
one word : idiots!
Idiots for posting the videos.
Idiots for taking the videos.
How dumb can you be? You make the evidence that you are violating a rule and then you share it with the general public.
Again, simply said : idiots!
So are you. Sheep
how is he wrong?
no not sheep, just not stupid enough to post a video of me committing a transgression. Unlike you, who seems to advocate filming and posting when you violate the rules. Unfortunately most criminals do not share your brain matter, would make the police’s job that much easier. PapiElfsAtool more like PapiEflsAFool.
Let me take a wild swing and assume you must love the trumpster?
He called you a sheep when you made a valid argument. Of course he’s a trump supporter
PapiElfsAtool the only sheep here are the ones following an idiotic and castrated president. Time for you both to concede.
Lol, yes to this comment
Have to agree with you..not real smart to share the evidence.
Stupid…. they don’t wear masks all game while they celebrate, huddle up and tackle one another so it really doesn’t matter if they wear masks after a game because they have already been exposed to it during the game. I am not even a saints fan and find this stupid.
Doesn’t matter what you or I think… league says they will wear masks in locker rooms.
Does matter. We pay the bills my friend.
What does the matter…we don’t make the rules.
Exactly. If they weren’t safe to celebrate, they weren’t safe to play.
I get it, I really do, but if this is anything more than a fine (which is the penalty for the average citizen in most places who doesn’t wear a mask), it’d be excessive.
The videos posted were pretty, well, dumb. I do not doubt that the Saints are not alone in locker room celebrations, but it’s pretty reckless to advertise that. I don’t mean to be political, but there is something to note here I think. The new administration figures to be tougher on COVID protocols, so it’s likely that the league will respond in kind. The punishment and attention to detail, which were already stringent to justify the season, may increase as the season goes on (and as the expected national uptick occurs).
The league is run by dumb and dumber. Don’t they realize the players had just played a game? In other words, if this was a risk to anyone, they just risked the Bucs players and staff just to have a game.
The most important protocols are to make sure people are safe before practice and especially before a game. If people pass those protocols, then any additional requirements is just plain overreach and stupidity.
Again..league rules.
Doesn’t mean they’re not stupid. Lots of rules are stupid. Beginning to think you are too.
Why are you saying you are smarter or more correct than the actual people investing their time, education, careers and everything in-between who are making sure what the NFL are doing is done right? The NFL has experts that work extremely hard, day in and out, to make rules and regulations to ensure that a major outbreak doesn’t occur so that the season is further disrupted or cancelled, or worse a player dies or has to medically retire. Saying the the league is dumb because they might be overdoing safety precautions is like saying airlines are stupid for making passengers wear seatbelts. Yeah, it doesn’t really do anything at all, but if it has the chance to prevent one injury or even save a life, then it is worth it.
Not what I am saying..was replying to his comment that it is dumb to wear them in locker room after playing a game without them. The league says they need to wear them in locker room…so they need to. I’m with you.. I follow the science. I never said league was dumb..his words.
I was replying to GeorgeBFN, idk why it makes it look like I was responding to you lol. We’re on the same page for sure 🙂
We sure are