JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 13: A New Orleans Saints helmet is seen on the bench during the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on October 13, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The New Orleans Saints will face NFL’s largest punishment for its third COVID-19 violation.
The NFL accomplished its goal of completing the 2020 season and to make it to Super Bowl 55 weekend during the coronavirus pandemic. While that is something to be lauded, there were multiple hiccups along the way that potentially threatened the season to expand if there were additional game postponements. There have been teams that were disciplined for not following the league’s strict COVID-19 protocol. Now, one organization could be facing the largest punishment yet.
According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, the New Orleans Saints are set to face the largest disciplinary action by the NFL after committing its third COVID-19 protocol violation that resulted in running back Alvin Kamara testing positive.
Kamara yielded a positive test result after interacting with a non-club employee who had COVID-19. That resulted in Kamara contracting the virus and forced the entire running backs room to miss the team’s regular-season finale against the Carolina Panthers due to being high-risk close contacts. The violation was recorded on camera and obtained by the league.
Saints have been fined a total of $750,000 prior to third offense
Back in Week 2, the Saints were fined $250,000 and head coach Sean Payton was handed a $100,000 fine for improperly wearing masks on the sidelines during their game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The second time the Saints felt the wrath of the NFL was back in Week 9, when the Saints celebrated their 38-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers without wearing masks. As a result of that infraction, the Saints organization was fined $500,000 and docked a seventh-round draft pick.
Pelissero and Rappoport suggest that since this is New Orleans’ third strike, the organization could see larger fine and could include “multiple and/or higher draft picks” being taken away.
With the Super Bowl taking place on Sunday, it is likely we will receive official word on the punishment in the coming days. Whenever that is, Saints fans might have to brace themselves when reading the NFL’s official punishment.