Raiders owner: Punishment for COVID-19 violations 'draconian'

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis disagrees with the punishment his team faces from the NFL for violating the league's COVID-19 protocols.

The league hit the Raiders with a $500,000 fine and stripped them of a sixth-round draft pick on Thursday, while head coach Jon Gruden was fined $150,000.

"The fines are draconian," Davis said Friday, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. "But we will appeal them. Outside the organization, people have the wrong impression about the Raiders. We take it seriously. It's unfortunate that certain things outside the protocol are the things being focused on, rather than the positive steps we've taken as an organization."

"Jon and those guys are working their asses off every day," he added. "But at the same time, (the NFL) feels we've failed some of those mandates."

The NFL opened an investigation into the team after right tackle Trent Brown tested positive for COVID-19 in October. The league reviewed whether Brown failed to consistently wear his tracking device before contracting the virus.

It was the second time the Raiders and Gruden were fined this year for breaches of the COVID-19 protocols.

Las Vegas' previous punishments stemmed from Gruden failing to properly wear a mask on the sidelines in Week 2, an unauthorized employee being allowed to enter the locker room after that game, and a charity event at which Raiders players were seen without masks.

"I'm just going to say (I'm) very proud of our organization, how we've handled this entire protocol and this entire process, and I'm not going to comment any further than that," Gruden said Friday.

The 4-3 Raiders face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9.

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