The NFL has opened an investigation into whether Giants head coach Brian Daboll and others violated concussion protocol during rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart’s evaluation in Thursday night’s win against the Eagles, a violation that could result in fines and loss of draft picks.
Dart was taken into the medical tent in the third quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. Daboll repeatedly went near the tent, hoping Dart would be cleared and reinserted into the game. After the game, Daboll explained what happened when he went to check on Dart.
“We were getting ready to go for it on a potential fourth down,” Daboll said. “I would have burned a timeout if he could have came out there, so I was asking how long is it going to take?”
During Sunday night’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio was on NBC’s “Football Night in America” and said the league has initiated an investigation.
“The NFL is taking this very seriously,” Florio said. “No one is allowed in the tent. Coaches and players can’t go in. Running back Cam Skattebo actually went inside during the concussion evaluation of Jaxson Dart. The league called the NFL Players Association the next morning to start a joint review. There will be interviews of all relevant medical staff, coaches and players. The Giants face a potential fine and also the possibility of the loss of a draft pick, depending upon how this all shakes out.”
The league has emphasized protecting players from head injuries and the evaluation process. After the Giants incident, the league sent a memo to every team that reiterated the concussion evaluation rules.
“If a club employee or other member of the club medical staff knowingly and materially fails to follow a mandatory step of the Game Day Checklist, the club and individual violating the protocol will be subject to discipline as set forth in the CBA,” the league said via Pro Football Talk.
If the Giants are hit with a fine, it would not be the first time. In 2017, the Seattle Seahawks were fined $100,000 after Russell Wilson went back into a game without the full concussion evaluation being finished.
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