The NFL has fined the Giants, head coach Brian Daboll, and running back Cam Skattebo after concluding that the league’s concussion protocol was violated during the team’s inspiring win over the Eagles.
Late in the third quarter of Big Blue’s Week 6 victory at MetLife Stadium, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart was removed from the game and brought to the blue medical tent on the Giants sideline to be evaluated for a concussion. Per league rules, only authorized medical personnel are allowed to be present in the tent when a player is being evaluated for a potential injury, and both Daboll and Skattebo poked their heads into the tent to check on Dart while he was still being evaluated.
As a result, the league fined the team $200,000, Daboll $100,000, and Skattebo $15,000 “for conduct detrimental to the league.”
Daboll told reporters after the game that he was only checking on Dart, not trying to speed along the league’s process to clear a player of a potential concussion. Regardless, entering the tent at all is against league rules, and subject to fine.
The league’s investigation did conclude that Daboll and Skattebo did nothing to impact the exam on Dart, and the team took “immediate remedial steps to prevent any similar violation in the future.”
Dart had grabbed his head after being sacked and jogged to the sideline under his own power. He missed the remainder of the Giants possession but was back in once they got the ball back early in the fourth.