Three NFL clubs and their head coaches have been fined by the NFL for violating rules of wearing face coverings in the bench area during Week 2 games, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported Monday evening.
The Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks and their respective head coaches, Vic Fangio, Kyle Shanahan and Pete Carroll, have been fined. Each team is fined $250,000 and each coach is penalized $100,000 as the league does its due diligence to uphold COVID-19 protocols and safety.
The fines doled out obviously did not include Monday night's ongoing game between the New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders, which Garafolo and Pelissero hinted could lead to more.
Sean Payton and Jon Gruden were each on screen during ESPN's broadcast seen with their masks off. Gruden was asked after the Raiders' victory if he was aware that coaches had been fined.
"I'm doing my best. You know, I've had the virus. OK. I'm doing my best," Gruden said. "I'm very sensitive about it, but I'm calling plays. I just wanna communicate in these situations and I apologize and if I get fined, I will have to pay the fine, but I'm very sensitive about all of that and I apologize. Alright? Thanks guys."
It was the final question of the press conference.
