Report: Saints face major discipline for maskless locker room celebration
The New Orleans Saints are facing significant discipline for not wearing masks during postgame celebrations in their locker room following last Sunday's 38-3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Video of Saints players and head coach Sean Payton dancing without masks went viral, including since-deleted ones posted to the team's official account.
A look inside the #Saints locker room... Sean Payton dancing away.
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) November 9, 2020
(via @Julie_Boudwin) pic.twitter.com/HJHadeDn7W
New Orleans could reportedly be docked a draft pick and fined on a similar level to the Las Vegas Raiders, who lost a sixth-rounder and were fined a total of $600,000 for several violations of the league's COVID-19 protocols.
The NFL is apparently expected to hand down its punishment to the Saints in the upcoming week.
New Orleans, like Las Vegas, has already drawn the league's ire for previous COVID-19 protocol violations. Payton was fined $100,000 and the Saints $250,000 because the head coach failed to wear a mask during the club's Week 2 loss to the Raiders.