The NFL and its Players Association dropped a $315,000 hammer on the Giants, head coach Brian Daboll and rookie Cam Skattebo for “conduct determinantal to the league.”
The Giants were fined $200,000, Daboll was fined $100,000 and Skattebo was fined $15,000 for their roles in violating the league-mandated concussion protocol during quarterback Jaxson Dart’s sideline examination during an Oct. 9 game against the Eagles.
The investigation determined that Daboll peeking into the tent to speak to Dart and Skattebo entering the tent “had no actual impact on the exam or the care that Mr. Dart received,” but that “their conduct was inconsistent with and demonstrated a disregard for the concussion protocol’s requirements and therefore constitute a violation,” the NFL and NFLPA said in a joint statement.
It is against the policy for anyone other than “medical personnel deemed essential to the care of the athlete” to be present during a concussion examination.
So, in the end, the optics of a head coach exerting influence over the medical staff were too bad to allow because of “creating the perception that they were inferring with Dart’s exam.”
“I don’t really have any comments. I’m just glad Jaxson is healthy,” Skattebo said. “They took action, and it’s over with.”
Daboll said he apologized after the game for screaming at team physician Dr. Scott Rodeo on the sideline.
The NFL and NFLPA reviewed the relevant reports and video and jointly interviewed members of the Giants medical staff, independent medical providers including the independent neurotrauma consultant stationed on the sideline, coaches and players.
It was determined that the Giants’ medical staff and the independent providers adhered to the proper steps of the concussion protocol.
The Giants and Daboll had no comment in response to the fines but owner John Mara – a member of the NFL’s Health and Safety committee – already condemned Daboll’s actions while saying he believed the head coach’s defense that his intent was just to check on Dart and not rush him back onto the field.
“The parties also noted that the Giants undertook immediate remedial steps to prevent any similar violation in the future” the statement said, “including by cooperating fully with the joint review, conducting additional training with club staff and players about proper use of the medical tent and taking additional steps to ensure that only permitted individuals are able to enter the medical tent during a concussion evaluation.”
It is not clear what those “additional steps” constitute.
Skattebo’s rookie salary is $840,000. He previously said he went into the tent to calm down Dart, who was upset to be missing a crucial part of the game.
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