Earlier today, the NFL took a firm footing on an issue that could have easily been abused and gotten out of control had they not been quick to enforce it. As a fan, I rarely approve of anything that Roger Goodell's administration has instated, but on this subject, I'm actually quite happy with their response.
In Sunday nights football matchup between the St. Louis Rams and the New York Giants, several Giants players, unable to substitute out because of the Ram's no huddle offense. abruptly dropped to the ground as if injured. This move allowed the Giants to get the right personnel out onto the field to stop the Rams and hold them to a field goal. Giants defensemen Deon Grant and Jacquian Williams were the two players who were "injured, however Williams got up as soon as he realized Grant was on the ground as well. Grant jogged off the field under his own power, and later returned to the game.
Rams quarterback and head coach Steve Spagnuolo both cried foul over the maneuver, which is normally something you see on the soccer fields of Europe, rather the football fields of America. The NFL quickly ended any thoughts about using this tactic in the future, issuing warnings of fines and loss of draft picks if it determines a player faked an injury.
I love this verdict. Personally, I think what the Giants players did was a bush league tactic, and i'll tell you why. In a day and age where many of their NFL brethren (including, I believe, a fair number of Giants players) suffer awful season ending injuries, why would these two see fit to abuse and take advantage of the play stoppage system meant to aid injured players on the field? I think it was a rather classless move and was done in poor taste. Countless soccer teams have used this tactic as a substitute for real skill to preserve leads and win games, and the practice turns off more than a few football fans. I'm hopeful and encouraged to hear that this sort of behavior won't be taking place in American football anymore.
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