The New England Patriots were fined $250,000 for COVID-19 protocol violations during their outbreak in October, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Quarterback Cam Newton was among eight Patriots who landed on the COVID-19 list, reserved for players who tested positive or were in close contact with someone who tested positive. Newton was the first player to test positive in New England, and though it’s unclear whether he spread the novel coronavirus through the locker room, a number of positive tests followed his.
New England’s fine is the same as the one the Tennessee Titans received earlier this season for a similar outbreak. The Titans violated NFL protocol by conducting practices between position players while their facility was shut down. There have been no such reports about the Patriots.
Sources: The #Patriots were fined $350K for COVID-19 protocol violations stemming from issues in October when Cam Newton & others tested positive.
The #Saints were fined $500K and docked a 7th round pick for their mask-less locker room celebration. They are repeat offenders.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 29, 2020
Unlike the Saints, the Patriots’ punishment did not result in the loss of any draft picks, per the NFL Network report.
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