Tag: covid 19

Report: Sean Payton never paid fines for COVID-19 policy violations during 2020 season

ESPN reports Sean Payton never paid fines for violating the NFL’s COVID-19 policy in 2020, allegedly laughing at Jon Gruden for doing so:

[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8169″]

Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton made a cameo in a dynamite report from ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham on the fall of longtime NFL personalities Jon Gruden (the ex-Las Vegas Raiders coach) and Dan Snyder (the soon-to-be former Washington Commanders owner). Payton has been close friends with Gruden for decades, dating back to their early careers together with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Back in the 2020 season at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, both Payton and Gruden were fined $100,000 for violating the league’s health and safety protocols after failing to properly cover their faces during a high-profile game at the Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium. But ESPN reports that only Gruden paid up.

“I never paid the fine,” ESPN quotes Payton as telling Gruden, “You’re the only dumbf— that paid the fine.”

ESPN adds that Payton claimed multiple other coaches declined to pay their fines; the NFL issued discipline to a group including Pete Carroll (Seattle Seahawks), Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers), and Vic Fangio (Denver Broncos), though it’s unclear who Payton was allegedly referring to.

Payton has a famously frosty relationship with the NFL head office in New York stemming from the 2012 Bountygate scandal, so it’s not too surprising that he would refuse to pay up if not forced to. The Saints were later docked a 2022 sixth-round draft pick for additional COVID-19 policy violations, being the only team in the league to do so (the Raiders also initially forfeited a draft pick, but won it back upon appeal). We’ll have to wait and see whether Payton’s acrimonious relationship with league commissioner Roger Goodell has followed him to Denver.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Bills fans no longer need to be COVID vaccinated to attend games at Highmark Stadium

#Bills fans no longer need to be COVID vaccinated to attend games at Highmark Stadium:

The Buffalo Bills are not going to host any games at Highmark Stadium until August when the 2022 preseason begins.

As things now stand, once we get there, fans will no longer be required to have a COVID-19 vaccine to attend contests in Orchard Park. On Monday, that became official.

“The vaccination mandate at Highmark Stadium has also been lifted,” Ron Raccuia, Executive Vice President for Pegula Sports and Entertainment, told WIVB-TV.

The previous policy required all fans 12 and up to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

It was also previously a requirement that attendees age 5-11 have at least one shot.

Rules are subject to change by the time the season rolls around depending on the COVID-19 policies in Erie County at that time where the stadium is located.

Along with future Bills games, the policy also relates to other events at the venue, such as concerts. The band Metallica was recently announced as a performer at the stadium in August.

In January, Bills fans were charged for using fake vaccine cards at Highmark Stadium after allegedly posting photos of them on social media.

[lawrence-related id=97763,97759,97757]

Saints complete 4 last-minute roster moves before Week 18 kickoff vs. Falcons

Saints complete last-minute roster moves before Week 18 kickoff vs. Falcons

The New Orleans Saints brought up three players from their practice squad prior to kickoff in Week 18 with the Atlanta Falcons, also losing a veteran backup to the COVID-19 reserve list. While they’re in much better shape than Saints fans have seen them in recent weeks, it’s still good to get reinforcements. Here’s what you need to know from Saturday’s update to the daily NFL transactions wire:

Saints activate Erik McCoy and Marcus Williams, questionable to play vs. Panthers

Saints activate Erik McCoy and Marcus Williams from COVID-19 reserve, questionable to play vs. Panthers

Let’s start with the good news: the New Orleans Saints activated two key starters on Saturday, bringing both center Erik McCoy and free safety Marcus Williams off of the COVID-19 reserve list. But that’s not enough for them to suit up in Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers.

Both starters need to finish clearing the NFL’s COVID protocols before they can join the team and dress out, meaning they need one more negative test result to gain clearance. For now, they’re each officially listed as questionable to play against the Panthers. Don’t expect a resolution until about 90 minutes before kickoff when each team reports their inactive lists.

Obviously it would be huge to get both players back in the lineup. McCoy has had to work overtime keeping the offensive line afloat with injuries all around him. Williams has been maybe their most consistent defensive back. If they aren’t able to play, look for backup lineman Will Clapp to start in McCoy’s place at the pivot while P.J. Williams fills in for the Saints’ franchise-tagged safety.

Additionally, the Saints designated tight end Nick Vannett to the COVID-19 reserve list while activating practice squad defensive tackle Malcolm Roach from it.

[listicle id=61726]

Saints place starting center Erik McCoy on COVID-19 reserve list

Saints place starting center Erik McCoy on COVID-19 reserve list; 8 players still in protocols

Another day, another New Orleans Saints starter entering the league’s COVID-19 protocols: starting center Erik McCoy was sidelined on Thursday, joining free safety Marcus Williams and several of their teammates on the reserve list ahead of Week 17’s matchup with the Carolina Panthers. He’s likely going to miss that Panthers kickoff on Sunday, though we can’t rule anything out given the NFL’s relaxed stance. If McCoy can’t play, look for either right guard Cesar Ruiz or backup center Will Clapp to fill in for him.

It’s not all bad, though. The Saints brought back two players from the COVID list in defensive ends Carl Granderson and Jalyn Holmes. That adds some much-needed depth to a position group that’s been whittled down by injuries and the coronavirus. The less Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport have to do on their own, the better off they’ll be.

Here’s the updated list of Saints players still on the COVID-19 list (not including left tackle Landon Young and kicker Wil Lutz, who are out for the season on injured reserve):

  1. OL Ryan Ramczyk (Dec. 24)
  2. RB Dwayne Washington (Dec. 24)
  3. WR Deonte Harris (Dec. 26)
  4. DT Malcolm Roach (Dec. 26)
  5. OL Jerald Hawkins (Dec. 26)
  6. CB KeiVarae Russell (Dec. 26)
  7. S Marcus Williams (Dec. 29)
  8. C Erik McCoy (Dec. 30)

Bills activated Cody Ford, Cam Lewis off Reserve/COVID-19 list

#Bills activated Cody Ford, Cam Lewis off Reserve/COVID-19 list:

One day after adding four players off of their Reserve/COVID-19 list, the Buffalo Bills have done so with two more pieces on Thursday.

The team announced that offensive lineman Cody Ford and cornerback Cam Lewis were activated from the designation.

Those moves come after offensive lineman Jon Feliciano, defensive lineman AJ Epenesa and wide receivers Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis were activated on Wednesday.

The first four are more likely players that could immediately be brought back into the starting lineup.

In terms of Lewis, he’s most certainly a depth piece. Depending on what Buffalo (9-6) decides to do with their offensive line, Ford might end up starting in Week 17 against the Atlanta Falcons (7-8).

In addition to Ford and Lewis, the Bills made a few other transactions.

Added back to the practice squad from the COVID list was tight end Quintin Morris.

To make room for him there, running back Antonio Williams was released.

Follow the Bills Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[lawrence-related id=94357,94355,94303]

11 Saints players clear COVID protocol, but Marcus Williams goes down

The Saints activated nearly a dozen players from COVID-19 reserve including Taysom Hill, Demario Davis, and Kwon Alexander, but they lost Marcus Williams:

We just can’t get only-positive New Orleans Saints news these days. The team activated nearly a dozen players from the COVID-19 reserve list on Wednesday, including their top two quarterbacks in Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian, as well as firebrand linebacker Demario Davis.

But they lost Marcus Williams, the veteran free safety who leads all defenders in snaps played this season. Williams has been a major part of New Orleans’ defensive success this season, helping the Saints limit opponents to just 36 pass completions of 20 or more yards — a number that ranks fifth-best in the NFL. For context, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Las Vegas Raiders are tied for worst in the league with 61 such gains.

Let’s hope Williams can clear protocol in time to return for Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers, because they’ll miss him if he can’t play.

In better news: here is the full list of Saints players returning from COVID-19 reserve on Wednesday, with those still remaining in protocol listed after. The Saints did return defensive captain Malcolm Jenkins and tight end Juwan Johnson from the COVID list on Tuesday, so these are more steps in the right direction:

Deonte Harris ends suspension, but remains on the COVID list

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Deonte Harris finished serving his three-game NFL suspension, but remains on the COVID-19 reserve list:

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Deonte Harris finished serving his three-game NFL suspension, but remains on the COVID-19 reserve list after being placed there on Dec. 26. He’ll be eligible to return, if asymptomatic, on Dec. 31. He’s got a good chance at playing in Week 17’s game with the Carolina Panthers.

It would be huge to get Harris back in the lineup (one quick note: Harris legally changed his name to Deonte Harty in respect to his stepfather, which we’ll begin using here on Saints Wire once it’s reflected on the team’s official roster online). He’s averaged the highest receiving yards per game (47.5) of everyone on the team and would be a great shot in the arm for their last two games.

Hopefully he’s able to clear protocol and get back in the lineup. There’s a lot on the line for the Saints these last two weeks, and they’ll need every playmaker they can get to help them go the distance.

[listicle id=61677]

Malcolm Jenkins and Juwan Johnson cleared from COVID-19 protocols

Some reinforcements are on the way: Malcolm Jenkins and Juwan Johnson have been cleared from COVID-19 protocols

Some reinforcements are on the way for the New Orleans Saints: starting safety Malcolm Jenkins and backup tight end Juwan Johnson have both been cleared from the COVID-19 reserve list, per Tuesday’s update to the daily NFL transactions wire.

And more help could be on the way ahead of Sunday’s Week 17 game with the Carolina Panthers after the NFL and NFLPA adjusted their protocols to reflect the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Asymptomatic individuals may now return to work after five days, not ten, regardless of vaccination status.

That’s big news for a Saints team that lost to the Miami Dolphins on Monday night in part because of an outbreak that sidelined nearly two dozen players, including their top two quarterbacks and all three starting linebackers, plus an important on-field leader in Jenkins.

It’s frustrating that this change was initiated after the Saints-Dolphins game, but it honestly wouldn’t have made much of a difference for New Orleans. Only two players entered COVID protocols prior to that five-day window which would have allowed them to play, in Johnson and tight end Adam Trautman. All of the other Saints players on the list missed the cut and wouldn’t have cleared protocol in enough time to play on Dec. 27, including Jenkins.

Fortunately they should have ample time to get right in time for Jan. 2’s matchup with Carolina. And with a playoffs berth still within reach, New Orleans needs all the help it can get.

[listicle id=61680]