Source: Gruden and Payton fined for not wearing masks
LAS VEGAS » Two more NFL head coaches and their teams have been fined for not wearing masks on the sideline.
A person with knowledge of the punishment said Tuesday that Jon Gruden of the Raiders and Sean Payton of the Saints were each fined $100,000 for not wearing masks on the sideline on Monday night.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the league wasn’t announcing specific fines, said the teams were also fined $250,000 for the infractions. The league already handed out similar punishments to Denver’s Vic Fangio, San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan and Seattle’s Pete Carroll, the person said.
Gruden apologized after the game for failing to wear his mask and also acknowledged for the first time that he had the coronavirus during the offseason.
“I don’t want to get into it really,” he said. “It wasn’t pleasant. It was reported that I made up that I had the virus and it really ticked me off, because I would never do something like that. But it’s a very serious matter, and obviously I’m sensitive about it. It was a tough deal, that’s for sure, just like everybody else that’s had it.”
Payton also had the coronavirus this offseason.
The punishments come a week after the NFL warned all 32 teams in a memo about following the rules for wearing face coverings during the coronavirus pandemic lest they put the NFL season at risk.
Giants place Barkley on IR
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. » The New York Giants placed running back Saquon Barkley on injured reserve Tuesday, a day after confirming the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year tore his right ACL.
The Giants made the move and replaced Barkley’s roster spot by signing cornerback Ryan Lewis off the practice squad.
Barkley was hurt near the Chicago sideline after trying to fend off Bears safety Eddie Jackson on a 6-yard carry early in the second quarter. The No. 2 overall draft choice in 2018 dragged his right leg behind him as he was helped back across the field to the Giants sideline.
Surgery will happen once swelling in Barkley’s knee subsides.
Washington guard Scherff heads to IR with hurt knee
ASHBURN, VA. » Washington Football Team right guard Brandon Scherff went on injured reserve Tuesday after hurting his right knee and receiver Cam Sims was brought up from the practice squad.
Scherff, Washington’s top offensive lineman, is a three-time Pro Bowl selection who is playing under a franchise tag this season.
He got injured Sunday and missed the second half of a 30-15 loss at the Arizona Cardinals.
While blocking on a play late in the first half, Washington right tackle Morgan Moses inadvertently pushed Arizona defensive end Angelo Blackson onto Scherff’s right leg.
Coach Ron Rivera said Monday that Scherff would “miss a couple of weeks or something like that.”
Jets sign WR Malone
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. » The New York Jets signed wide receiver Josh Malone to the active roster Tuesday after he was elevated from the practice squad for the first two games.
The team also announced it placed cornerback Arthur Maulet on the injured reserve list and released linebacker Paul Worrilow from the practice squad.
Malone has four catches for 16 yards this season while helping bolster an injury-depleted receiving group. He began the season on the practice squad.