After the Las Vegas Raiders handed the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs their first loss in 337 days, Jon Gruden sat down for the postgame videoconference wanting like a Wild West outlaw.

“Can I take this off?” he politely requested his public relations man earlier than slipping off his black bandana face masks.

Gruden wore the face overlaying correctly in all however three of the 50 occasions he was proven on the CBS broadcast Sunday, and through two of these transgressions he rapidly pulled it again over his nostril.

That was a 180-degree swap for Gruden, one in every of 5 NFL head coaches fined $100,000 final month for failing to abide by the league’s masks guidelines.

Final week in opposition to the Payments, Gruden was proven extra occasions (20) violating the NFL’s coronavirus security guidelines requiring noses and mouths to be coated than he was proven in compliance (19) with the COVID-19 mitigation measures.

The opposite coaches who have been dinged — and their groups docked $250,000 — for shoddy masks additionally discovered their costly classes.

All of them began complying in Week 3, when Broncos coach Vic Fangio started donning a face defend like Andy Reid. Saints coach Sean Payton was carrying his masks correctly 32 of 35 occasions he was proven on the telecast final week in opposition to the Lions, and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was 100% in compliance in the course of the 35 occasions he was proven in opposition to Philadelphia.

And Seahawks coach Pete Carroll had his masks on final week in opposition to Miami for all however a handful of sideline pictures. He, too, pulled it again over his nostril most of these occasions he was proven in violation.

This can be a good factor not just for their pocketbooks and reputations however for the league as a complete as a result of the Tennessee Titans’ COVID-19 mess started with an assistant coach testing optimistic for the virus final month.

It reveals the coaches and gamers are all on this collectively.

Broncos linebacker Von Miller, who final spring turned the largest sports activities star to announce he’d contracted the coronavirus, stated he is not stunned the league’s masks mandate received off to a rocky begin.

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“It’s simply humanity, it’s not one particular person’s fault,” stated Miller, who goals to return from an ankle harm in December. “It’s arduous to get everyone on the identical web page. You see individuals not even enjoying sports activities, you ask them to put on a masks and so they go all loopy. They are saying, ‘They’re taking away my freedom.’

“When it comes over to soccer, it takes time to get everyone conscious. All people’s expertise is completely different with COVID-19. I’ve had the virus. I understand how critical it’s,” Miller stated. “I hold my masks on. I stroll round and attempt to hold everyone protected.

“You will have someone that doesn’t have anyone affected by the virus, it doesn’t hit the identical with them. It takes time and an consciousness to get everyone on the identical web page,” Miller added. “I don’t blame the coaches for not carrying masks. It simply takes slightly little bit of time to get everyone on the identical web page.”

That, and a few hefty fines.

BRADY’S BRAIN LOCK

Tom Brady has clearly gotten over his gaffe.

The Buccaneers quarterback congratulated LeBron James on his fourth NBA title and NBA Finals MVP award Monday by making enjoyable of his fourth-down flub that sealed Tampa Bay’s 20-19 loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday night time.

“Congrats to my brother @KingJames on successful his 4th championship. Not unhealthy for a washed up outdated man!” Brady tweeted with a doctored photograph that had James’ face on Brady’s physique holding up 4 fingers.

Brady appeared like he misplaced observe of downs when he threw a protracted incomplete move to a well-covered tight finish on fourth down when a check-down move to his operating again simply might have picked up the primary down and stored the Bucs’ last-minute drive alive.

When the Bears trotted again onto the sector in celebration, a puzzled Brady held up 4 fingers as he requested the official one thing. Afterward, Brady ducked questions on whether or not he hadn’t realized it was fourth down.

Brady’s mind lock naturally received the meme therapy on social media with many posters suggesting he wasn’t the primary new Floridian to have a senior second. Steelers broad receiver Chase Claypool trolled him Sunday after scoring 4 touchdowns, posting a photograph of him holding up 4 fingers with a puzzled look a la Brady.

Brady confirmed he can chuckle at himself when he congratulated James — and within the course of reminded everybody he’s not that unhealthy himself for a fellow “washed up outdated man.”

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With contributions from AP Sports activities Author Pat Graham.

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Comply with Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton

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Extra AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL