BALTIMORE – The Baltimore Ravens was fined $ 250,000 by the NFL for its recent outbreak of COVID-19, but avoided losing a draft choice, a league source confirmed.
This discipline is less severe than others imposed by the league this season. The New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans were fined $ 350,000 each, and the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints were fined $ 500,000 and were deprived of a choice in the draft (the Raiders lost their choice in the sixth round and the Saints in the seventh round).
The NFL fine adds to the discipline imposed by the Ravens, the source added. Baltimore suspended its strength and fitness trainer Steve Saunders for not always wearing a mask and a contact tracking device on the premises.
Last month, the Ravens dealt with one of the biggest outbreaks in professional sport. Baltimore has had at least one positive player test for 10 consecutive days and has had two of his games rescheduled several times as a result.
The Ravens placed a total of 23 players on the reserve / COVID-19 list from November 23 to December 2, including current NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, who tested positive on Thanksgiving Day. The team was informed by the NFL that “at least four exclusive strains” of COVID-19 were found inside their facilities during the outbreak.
This caused the Ravens’ game against the Steelers to be delayed three times and the game against the Cowboys to be delayed twice.
“From the beginning, we took the virus seriously, very seriously,” Ravens President Dick Cass said in a statement earlier this month. “… Despite our best efforts, the protocol is as effective as our weakest link. With a dangerous virus like this, everyone must comply with the protocol to avoid infecting many. Now we know that not everyone at Ravens followed the protocol completely. “
The Ravens have had only a few positive tests since the outbreak. Baltimore currently has no players on the reserve list / COVID-19.
The NFL Network was the first to report the Ravens’ fine.