NFL investigating Giants, coach Brian Daboll, for handling of Jaxson Dart’s concussion evaluation vs. Eagles
The NFL, in conjunction with the NFL Players Association, has opened a review into the application of concussion protocol involving quarterback Jaxson Dart during the New York Giants’ 34-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports. The review concerns the actions of Giants coach Brian Daboll, who looked into the medical tent and was later shown yelling at the team doctor following a Dart injury in the third quarter.
After taking a hit while running the ball, Dart took a while to get up before walking off the field and toward the Giants sideline, where he entered the blue medical tent to be evaluated for a concussion. Visibly anxious to the point of losing his composure, Daboll was seen heading towards the medical tent to check on Dart, and he was also seen yelling at the Giants’ head physician, Dr. Scott A. Rodeo, during the footage.
Daboll and the Giants could be subject to league disciplinary action depending on the results of the league’s investigation, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Non-medical personnel are not permitted inside the medical tent during player evaluations.
Daboll apologized after the game and has yet to hear from the NFL
Daboll, for his part, apologized for his actions during his postgame press conference Thursday night.
“I apologized directly to our team doctor. I just wanted him out if he was okay,” Daboll said. “But I wanted the process, like if we were getting ready to go for a potential fourth down, I would have burned a timeout if he could have gotten out. I was asking how long it was going to take. Again, you want your guy out there. Don’t risk anything else. But he’s out. I think he’s going to be good. Is he going to be good or not? I’m going to call a timeout on fourth down and go get that son of a bitch.
“I love our doctors…I apologized. I was wrong.”
Daboll, during his press briefing Friday, said he had not heard from the league regarding his actions on the sidelines, but maintained he respected the NFL’s concussion protocol process and took player health and safety issues seriously.
“Like I said last night, I went in, I didn’t really go in, I just stuck my head in to see how our quarterback was doing. There’s no way I would want a player to come back that wasn’t ready to play,” Daboll said. “I think I have great respect for this process. I know [Giants co-owner John Mara] is part of the competition health and safety committee. It’s very important to him. We talked about it. I wondered if it took 10 minutes, if it took an hour, if it took two minutes. That’s really where I was at in asking the question I asked when I was on the sidelines making a decision on the game.
“Health and safety is important to us, it’s important to me, and that’s what I’ll say with this.”
John Mara addresses controversy
Following Daboll’s comments Friday, Giants co-owner and CEO John Mara said in a statement that he spoke to the coach Friday morning about his actions approaching the medical tent.
“While I firmly believe, as he 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,” Mara said. “We have protocols in place as a league to ensure player safety, and we must allow our medical staff to execute those protocols without interference. We understand that the situation is under review by the NFL and NFLPA, and we will obviously cooperate fully.”
Given his position as owner of the Giants and a key member of the NFL’s competition committee, the incident involving Daboll poses an unnecessary headache for Mara, especially given the good feelings Thursday night’s victory should have generated. Mara, who recently announced he had been diagnosed with cancer, was on hand for the Giants’ victory and received a game ball in the locker room after the 34-17 win.
Dart returned to the field and led the Giants to a win
In addition to Daboll, Cam Skattebo, the Giants’ emerging star rookie, was also seen trying to check on Dart inside the blue medical tent. Dart would only miss two plays, but the drive would end when backup quarterback Russell Wilson missed a throw on third down to a torrent of boos from the crowd.
Dart’s trip to the medical tent was the only blemish of his night, as he turned in a solid performance to win his first NFC East divisional game and his first against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who have long been the Giants’ tormentors.
Dart completed 17 of 25 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown while running the ball 13 times for 58 yards and another touchdown, giving him an undefeated home record to start his young career.
