HENDERSON, Nev.– Coach Jon Gruden stated Las Vegas Raiders players “let their dauber down a bit” when they broke COVID-19 protocol by appearing maskless at an indoor charity drive Monday night. Quarterback Derek Carr, who participated in the occasion, said the players “had a few moments where we slipped up, took the masks off so individuals could see our face.”
Nevertheless, both rotated to the factor the gamers were at the occasion in the very first place: It was a charity event for colleague Darren Wallers foundation to assist at-risk youth conquered dependency. Waller himself is now three years sober.
” I dislike that a couple of minutes without our masks on resulted in a story about our team and all this kind of stuff, especially after the fines that were caused a number of weeks ago,” Carr said Wednesday. “So, we felt dreadful about that. We addressed it, we talked with Coach and we talked with our trainers about what really went down and all that kind of stuff.”
2 RelatedNews of the Raiders appearing at the occasion without masks surfaced one day before the Tennessee Titans reported positive COVID-19 tests from four players and five group workers members.
Previously this month, Gruden was fined $100,000 for not wearing his mask correctly on the sideline throughout Las Vegas win over the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 21. The Raiders were fined $250,000 and likewise are being examined by the NFL for apparently permitting an unapproved group staff member in the locker space after that game.
Meanwhile, the NFL has provided another strong warning to coaches who wont wear masks on the sideline throughout video games, threatening suspensions and forfeiture of draft selects as penalty for failing to comply with COVID-19 game-day procedures, according to a league memo gotten Wednesday by ESPNs Adam Schefter.
” We all understand that this is an awful, awful virus,” Gruden said. It sounds like a few individuals got the virus. And it does definitely get yourself awakened to the truth of, it can get any person, anywhere, at any time.”
Gruden, who has actually said he had the coronavirus in July, has actually made it a group objective to “squash the infection.” Throughout training camp, he had T-shirts made with that slogan together with the Raiders logo design on them.
” Ill simply say this: Weve done an excellent task, weve done an outstanding task,” Gruden said. They walked in with their masks on, there was an event.
” But weve done an excellent job– using our masks, taking appropriate care of each other and everybody. Im truly happy of our gamers. I appreciate our players being there in assistance of him.”
An NFL spokesperson said in an e-mail to ESPN.com on Wednesday afternoon that the league was “looking into the matter,” which violated Nevada state guidelines for the pandemic and may have broken league regulations.
NFL and National Football League Players Association rules limit what activities players are allowed to participate in when far from team facilities. Players, it is mentioned, are not enabled to go to any occasion that “violates local and state restrictions.”
The Raiders are slated to host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Bills cornerback TreDavious White said the problem was “certainly something that guys were pointing out in the locker room” but added that the team mainly was not concerned.
” It raised a lot of antennas. However I feel like if we continue to take the preventative measures and do all the things were expected to do and go in the locations were supposed to go and not be selfish with it, I believe well be great,” White stated.
Added Bills coach Sean McDermott, “What we try to do is manage what we can manage from our end. Got a great deal of respect for Coach Gruden, and Im sure theyre on top of it over there.”
Joining Carr at Wallers occasion were backup quarterback Nathan Peterman; tight ends Jason Witten, Foster Moreau and Derek Carrier; broad receivers Zay Jones and Hunter Renfrow; cornerback Nevin Lawson; and center Erik Magnuson.
The occasion was held indoors at the DragonRidge Country Club, which was fined $2,000 by the city of Henderson for 4 infractions of the Nevada guvs COVID-19 emergency situation directives, consisting of people not using masks and more than 50 people at the event. The club now has 30 days to pay the fine or dispute it.
Raiders owner Mark Davis informed ESPN on Tuesday night, “Guys have to be more strict in fighting the infection. Its still our toughest opponent.”
Carr, who positioned for pictures with a maskless visitor who won his jersey in an auction, said he recognized not using a mask to the occasion was an error.
” We signed waivers,” Carr said. “Hand sanitizer, like crazy. … We werent perfect, however we werent attempting to be careless or negligent. At the very same time, [ Waller] had an event for something that implied a lot to him and they raised so much cash that you will not even begin to think of how much cash they raised to assist other individuals that fight with addiction, to get them in the best place and things like that. My hope and my prayer is that a couple of minutes of us screwing up, a few minutes here, where we were seen on cam, not in the private space, in the separate space for an hour, I hope that we do not lose what was really going on. Due to the fact that Darren had a terrific idea. He had a great plan. He wants to assist people.
” We need to have kept the masks on, even if we are can be found in and theyre introducing us. … I was simply there trying to support Waller. Thats what me and the guys were trying to do, however thats the end of that.”
Info from the Associated Press was used in this report.
” I hate that a few moments without our masks on led to a story about our group and all this kind of stuff, especially after the fines that were brought on a couple of weeks ago,” Carr stated Wednesday.” We all comprehend that this is a terrible, horrible virus,” Gruden stated.” Ill simply state this: Weve done a good task, weve done an excellent job,” Gruden said. They walked in with their masks on, there was an occasion.” We signed waivers,” Carr stated.
