The Saints maintain that no injuries were faked, and more than a half-million dollars still hangs in the balance.
The team will officially makes it case next week, Mickey Loomis said Friday, as it appeals the fines handed down stemming from an alleged acting job during the Saints' Week 13 loss to the Bucs.
The fines -- $350,000 for the team, $100,00 for head coach Dennis Allen, $50,000 for co-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen and $50,000 for defensive end Cam Jordan -- were levied after the league deemed Jordan to have been faking an injury when he went to a knee on the turf after a third-down snap in the 4th quarter. The Bucs ultimately punted, but the NFL deemed that move was an intentional ploy to delay the Bucs, who were mulling a 4th down decision deep in their own territory.
Jordan took to social media shortly after to share his dismay after being alerted to the fine, all of which were laid out in a league memo earlier in the season with the penalties geared toward eliminating egregious examples of fake injuries to delay games. Jordan and the team quickly rebuked the fines and assertion by the league, pointing to the very real mid-foot sprain that Jordan suffered during the game and spent the ensuing off week rehabbing.
"In terms of how I play this game, and how hard I play this game, I was like, 'Yo, if this was a civil lawsuit, I'd countersue for triple the amount,' " Jordan said at the time. "The amount of work that I put in and to being a part of the league. The amount of of honor I take in playing this game. That's why I also laugh at this."
Jordan's appeal was separate and has already been heard, though a decision had not yet been rendered as of Loomis' press conference.
"I think it's pretty much the same arguments," the Saints GM said this week.
Another similar fine was levied against the Cincinnati Bengals and safety Jessie Bates from the same week, though his case appeared far more clear. Bates was standing in the huddle before comically falling to the turf with his team appearing set to be called for a penalty with too many men in the huddle. Still, Bates declared that he would also appeal his fine. The result of that appeal has not yet been declared. Three other teams were fined for instances of fake injuries this season, according to a report from ProFootballTalk, though they were not specified.
