Giants, Brian Daboll fined for violating NFL concussion policy

Brian Daboll and the New York Giants have to pay a hefty sum for the coach’s actions in last week’s win over the defending-champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Daboll was fined $100,000 and the Giants were docked $200,000 after the coach was found to have violated league protocols by poking his head inside the medical tent while quarterback Jaxson Dart was being evaluated for a concussion.

Additionally, running back Cam Skattebo was fined $15,000 for conduct detrimental to the league.

In a joint statement released on Oct. 24, the NFL and NFLPA found that Daboll and Skattebo’s actions ‘had no actual impact on the exam or the care’ of Dart, but ‘their conduct was inconsistent with and demonstrated a disregard for the concussion protocol’s requirements,’ leading to the fines.

Daboll explained after the game that he was trying to ascertain Dart’s availability for a potential fourth-down play and not trying to influence any assessment or timeline for a potential return.

‘I’ll say this, like I said last night, I went in, didn’t actually go in, just stuck my head in to see how our quarterback was doing. Just asked him, ‘How you doing?” Daboll said last Friday. ‘In no way would I want a player to come back out there that wasn’t ready to play. I think I have great respect for that process.’

The league and NFL Players Association launched a joint investigation of the incident one day after the game. The NFL also sent out a memo, per multiple reports, reminding all 32 teams that medical personnel are the only figures other than the player in question who are permitted in the tents during a concussion evaluation.

‘I spoke to Coach Daboll this morning about approaching the medical tent last night. While I firmly believe, as he has stated, that he was not trying to influence the process in any way, he understands that the appearance of going to the tent is inappropriate,’ Giants co-owner John Mara said in a statement last Friday. ‘We have protocols in place as a league to ensure player safety, and we need to allow our medical staff to execute those protocols without interference.

‘We understand that the situation is under review by the NFL and NFLPA, and obviously we will cooperate fully.’