NFL Drops Hammer Down on Giants & Cam Skattebo With Over $300K in Fines

The New York Giants received three large NFL fines ahead of Week 8, as the league office posted an October 24 statement that featured both head coach Brian Daboll and rookie running back Cam Skattebo.

“In accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the NFL and NFLPA conducted a joint review of the application of the concussion protocol involving New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart during the team’s Week Six game against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 9,” the statement begins.

Continuing: “The NFL and NFLPA reviewed the relevant reports and video and jointly interviewed members of the club medical staff, independent medical providers, coaches and players. After a thorough review, the parties concluded that the team medical staff and unaffiliated medical providers properly followed all of the steps required by the collectively bargained and administered concussion protocol in their evaluation of Mr. Dart.”

However, as the press release later states, “no other individuals [outside of medical personnel] are permitted in the tent or locker room during an evaluation.”

For this reason, “the NFL and NFLPA concluded that the Giants violated the protocol when Head Coach Brian Daboll and running back Cam Skattebo entered the medical tent and spoke with Mr. Dart before his evaluation was complete, creating the perception that they were interfering with Dart’s exam.”

As punishment for these violations, the Giants organization was fined $200,000, according to the NFL’s Football Communications department. Separately, Daboll was fined an additional $100,000, and Skattebo was fined $15,000.

So, in total, the Giants and these two prominent NYG figures were fined a combined $315,000 by the NFL “for conduct detrimental to the league.”

Giants’ Concussion Fine Verdict Comes Ahead of Week 8 Rematch With Eagles

In case you missed it, this concussion protocol violation occurred in Week 6, as the Giants upset the Eagles on Thursday Night Football.

Dart was pulled from the game and evaluated for a concussion, but before the evaluation was complete, both Daboll and Skattebo popped their heads into the blue medical tent to see how their quarterback was progressing.

Per the October 24 statement from the NFL, “while the parties agreed that Coach Daboll’s and Mr. Skattebo’s actions had no actual impact on the exam or the care that Mr. Dart received, their conduct was inconsistent with and demonstrated a disregard for the concussion protocol’s requirements and therefore constituted a violation.”

Needless to say, the league office did not take this affront of their rulebook lightly, dropping the hammer down on both the organization and Daboll/Skattebo.

As a final note within the press release, NFL Football Communications relayed that “the parties also noted that the Giants undertook immediate remedial steps to prevent any similar violation in the future, 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.”

Another Victory Over the Eagles Will Take Away the Sting of Brian Daboll & Cam Skattebo’s NFL Fines

While this news is certainly not ideal for Daboll or Skattebo, it will sting a little less if the Giants win in Philadelphia.

Both Daboll and Skattebo are highly intense individuals during football games, and they let their passion get the best of them when they interrupted Dart’s medical evaluation. Now, they are paying the price, literally.

With that being said, Daboll and Skattebo seem like the type of guys that would pay $115,000 in fines on a weekly basis if it meant coming home with a win over a division rival. And they’ll surely bring that same intensity and passion to Philly in Week 8.

Kevin Stefanski Speaks Out After Joe Flacco Replaced by Dillon Gabriel, Considers Trade Options for Shedeur Sanders Before November 4 Deadline

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has addressed the team's recent quarterback shakeup following the decision to replace Joe Flacco with Dillon Gabriel. The move comes as the Browns search for more consistency at the position, with Gabriel stepping in to lead the offense moving forward. In addition to the quarterback change, Stefanski confirmed that the team is actively weighing trade options for Shedeur Sanders as the November 4 trade deadline approaches.

“We felt Dillon gave us the best chance to move forward right now,” Stefanski said during a recent press conference. “Joe has been a great professional, but after evaluating the situation, we decided to go in a different direction. Dillon has the ability to lead, and we believe he can help us get back on track.”

As for Shedeur Sanders, who has been backing up Gabriel, Stefanski acknowledged that the team is exploring all options, including potential trade discussions before the deadline. Sanders, a promising young quarterback, has been a hot topic in trade rumors, and with the Browns’ quarterback situation evolving, it’s unclear what role he will play moving forward.

“We’re always looking to improve the team,” Stefanski continued. “That means exploring every possibility, whether that’s through trades or internal decisions. Shedeur is a talented player, and we’re taking the time to evaluate what’s best for him and for the team.”

As the trade deadline looms, the Browns are at a crossroads with their quarterback situation. Stefanski’s decisions will be key in determining how the team navigates the rest of the season, with many wondering whether the Browns will move forward with Gabriel or make a significant change before November 4.

 

 

 

 

 

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