The NFL Sends a Message: Las Vegas stripped of first-round pick
In recent weeks, the NFL has declared that it will enforce stricter sanctions on teams that break COVID-19 protocols. On November 6, the NFL handed out its harshest fine yet for COVID-19 violations to the Las Vegas Raiders, the league’s repeat offenders. Just last month, the NFL fined the Raiders $250,000 for breaking regulations and coach Jon Gruden $100,000 for improperly wearing a face mask on the sidelines during a game. The team was fined an additional $50,000 for allowing an unauthorized visitor in the locker room. Clearly, the NFL gave no mercy to COVID-19 protocol breakers. In total, the team was fined $500,000 and lost a sixth-round pick in the 2021 draft. Coach Gruden was also given an extra $150,000 fine for “repeated violations.” Earlier this season, the team was fined for similar offenses with lesser penalties, which is why the Raiders are looking to appeal their latest punishments. So the question arises, are the Raiders’ latest penalties warranted?
The fines and the draft pick removal were by far the toughest penalties that NFL teams have seen so far. However, since the league has decided to push through the season while coronavirus cases continue to spike in many parts of the United States, strict punishments are expected. Therefore, the NFL’s harsh punishment for the Raiders will only worsen for future teams who violate the league’s COVID-19 regulations. The last action the NFL wants to take is to suspend games and shut down the league, so they must enforce COVID-19 protocols. If the NFL were to shut down, they would lose billions of dollars in revenue.
To compel teams to follow regulations, an example must be made of a team that violates such rules. The Las Vegas Raiders fit this role perfectly, having ignored precautions earlier this season by allowing ten of their players––including the team’s leader and quarterback, Derek Carr––to attend a crowded indoor charity event without masks and social distancing. Fines will never be enough to keep teams in check, but introducing a loss of draft picks will scare the rest of the league into strictly following regulations. For that reason alone, the penalties handed out to the Las Vegas Raiders were warranted because they help prevent future violations.
In short, if the NFL only fined teams using money, it would never be enough to send a message to the reckless teams in the league. The NFL is a billion-dollar industry and the most profitable professional sports league in the United States. Not only that, the teams in the league generate billions of dollars in revenue. So what will a couple of hundred thousand dollar fines do to teams? Absolutely nothing. However, combining fines with draft pick punishments is the perfect combination to incentivize teams to follow the rules. The NFL has sent its teams a message: neglect the rules, break your future.
