MDS wrote a great piece earlier this morning that suggested the NFL should fine Giants defenders Deon Grant and linebacker Jacquian Williams after clearly faking injuries last night to slow down the Rams.
I contacted league spokesman Greg Aiello if a fine for faking injury was possible. The answer is yes “if it could be proven.”
“It’s not a judgment call (‘We think or decided they were faking.’) You would need clear evidence, meaning an admission,” he wrote.
Grant didn’t speak to the media after the game. We’re sure the Giants will tell him not to admit anything now.
We’d argue that the video evidence here is indisputable. There is tape of two players falling out of nowhere, and guys laughing about it on the sideline.
Aiello pointed out that the player and medical staff could insist there was an injury, and then what? He pointed to Page 19 of the Rule Book (Rule 4/Game Timing): “The Competition Committee deprecates feigning injuries, with subsequent withdrawal, to obtain a timeout without penalty. Coaches are urged to cooperate in discouraging this practice.”
Common sense has be a factor. The Giants were obviously faking injury. The act is as old as football, but it goes against the competitive spirit of the game. We suspect it’s far more offensive to most fans than a group celebration that goes outside of the NFL’s demonstration rules.
This isn’t an issue that comes up often. It’s not soccer. We get the sense that the league isn’t too worried about it.
If the problem became widespread with more high profile examples, then perhaps the NFL would get proactive.