NFL hits 49ers with fines for offseason violations
The 49ers insisted Thursday they take player safety and league rules “very seriously,” saying so after further NFL discipline for violations amid their offseason program.
Fines of $100,000 were levied to the club and $50,000 to coach Kyle Shanahan, a league source confirmed. The 49ers, as well as the Dallas Cowboys and the Jacksonville Jaguars, were cited for unspecified violations in organized team activities, ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported.
“The health and safety of our players is our highest priority and we take following league rules very seriously. We will continue to work with the NFL and the NFLPA to ensure compliance,” read a 49ers statement.
Shanahan cut the offseason program short by eliminating the mid-June mandatory minicamp. Afterward, news broke that the NFL docked the 49ers their final week of the rookie development program after a video surfaced on social media of a rookie minicamp drill involving contact by cornerback Deommodore Lenoir in a nocontact period.
Thursday’s fines stems from issues unrelated to
that rookie minicamp incident, a league source said.
Olympics
JAPAN STILL UNSURE ABOUT SPECTATORS >> Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was still uncertain whether fans can be allowed at the Tokyo Olympics because of growing concern about rising COVID-19 cases only three weeks before the games.
Cases in Tokyo have been steadily on the rise, triggering fears the games would accelerate the spread of the coronavirus. Experts warn the highly contagious delta strain could trigger rapid resurgence of the infections that may require another state of emergency even during the games starting on July 23.
Tennis
GAUFF IMPRESSES IN WIN >> Do not get the wrong idea about Coco Gauff emerged with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over 34-year-old Russian Elena Vesnina to return to Wimbledon’s third round.
While many familiar faces still are chasing the men’s title this fortnight — eight-time champion Roger Federer and No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev, No. 4 Alexander Zverev and No. 7 Matteo Berrettini all won; No. 1 Novak Djokovic’s bid for a sixth title resumes Friday — Elina Svitolina’s loss means eight of the top 11 women in the WTA rankings are missing from the bracket due to defeat, withdrawal or injury.