Brian Daboll may have overstepped during Jackson Dart’s concussion assessment when he peeked into the injury tent.
This past Friday, the NFL began an examination, in partnership with the players’ union, to determine if the Giants and Daboll adhered to concussion protocols with Dart.
If a violation is confirmed, teams could face fines reaching up to $150,000.
“I just checked in on our quarterback,” Daboll mentioned. “I asked, ‘How are you doing?’ I never want a player to return if they aren’t ready. I respect that process.”
Running back Cam Skatebo also came by to see how Dart was doing.
Adding fuel to the fire, Daboll allegedly shouted at team physician Dr. Scott Rodeo.
Daboll has since expressed regret to Rodeo, but the NFL tends to look unfavorably upon coaches whose authority might compromise player wellbeing.
Giants owner John Mara is part of the NFL’s safety and health committee, which Daboll acknowledged as significant.
“It matters a lot to him,” Daboll noted. “We were wondering about the time it might take — 10 minutes, an hour, maybe just two minutes? Whatever the duration, that’s the time needed to make a decision during the game.”
Daboll, with a wealth of coaching experience, has dealt with the timing of concussion tests before. Although his past sidelines behavior has raised eyebrows, he hasn’t faced repercussions from the league.
Daboll shared that he hadn’t received any updates from the league yet, but reassured, “we will follow all rules.”
Dart missed the last two plays of a drive that ended in a punt, but Daboll implied the strategy for a fourth-down call could have differed had he known Dart would be back in time for the next series.
“Health and safety are crucial to us, and they matter to me,” Daboll remarked. “I respect the process.”
In an interesting coincidence, Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, was present for a pregame health and safety briefing at MetLife Stadium, highlighting the sideline medical area and concussion protocols, which he emphasized were reserved solely for medical staff.
Sills remarked, “Coaches never come here; other players never come here; it’s just for medical professionals.”
In 2017, the Seattle Seahawks faced a $100,000 fine for breaching concussion regulations involving Russell Wilson, who played two games for the Giants in Dart’s absence. The Texans in 2017 and the Panthers in 2018 faced no disciplinary actions after evaluations of their protocols regarding quarterbacks.
Players who pass an in-game concussion assessment need to be re-evaluated the following morning, and the results for Dart were still pending.
“I know he reviewed footage from the earlier days,” Daboll stated. “We will take further steps and evaluate the situation in the coming days.”
