Raiders owner Mark Davis thinks the NFL’s COVID-19 fines are ‘draconian’

Mark Davis, the owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, is not pleased with the NFL’s major penalties for repeated COVID-19 protocol violations, calling them “draconian.”

Mark Davis doesn’t agree with the NFL’s decision to fine the Raiders $500,000 and take away a sixth-round draft pick in punishment for violating COVID-19 protocols. Shocker.

“The fines are draconian,” the Raiders’ owner told ESPN after the penalties were announced. “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.”

Las Vegas may want the focus to be on the “positive steps” they’ve taken, but the missteps have definitely been the bigger story.

Mark Davis’s Raiders are repeat offenders

John Gruden and the organization were fined when he failed to wear a mask on the sidelines in Week 2. Another fine came along for allowing an unauthorized person into the locker room. A charity event held indoors resulted in even more fines.

The worst of the violations stem from protocol violations within the Raiders facilities. Per ESPN< right tackle Trent Brown tested positive for the coronavirus but had not been wearing his NFL-issue tracer. Tracking his close contacts became an issue. That was two weeks ago and now Brown is back on the COVID-19 reserve list.

The NFL is dealing with plenty of COVID-19 concerns with positive tests popping up with far too much regularity. They may be making an example of the Raiders, but the measures may be necessary to convince all 32 teams and their players to get serious about containing the spread of the virus.

As cases rise around the country, it will only get more difficult to keep it from impacting the 2020 season.