NFL investigates Georgia Dome noise

[JonLP24]

Last edited Sun Feb 1, 2015, 09:55 PM - Edit history (1)

The NFL has been investigating the Atlanta Falcons' use of artificial crowd noise in the Georgia Dome over the past two seasons, sources told ESPN.

The offense is expected to result in discipline, with the Falcons being fined and quite possibly losing a draft choice, according to sources.

"We were informed during the season that the league office is looking into crowd noise during our games," a Falcons team spokesman said. "We have cooperated fully with them, and we're awaiting the outcome."

Atlanta has been accused of piping in the noise while the opposing team was huddling, trying to call its play. Some around the league have argued that silent counts have rendered crowd noise more irrelevant, and it's difficult to discern how much of an advantage it gave the Falcons.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12262464/nfl-investigating-atlanta-falcons-fake-crowd-noise-georgia-dome

I bet this goes back further. For a team that's typically had average to above average offensive efficiency, they've been usually dominant at home. In the beginning, Michael "The Burner" Turner & Atlanta were in the top tier in rushing offense but that's been about it with the exception of Julio Jones Sophomore season.

[madinmaryland]

1. Haven't the Falcons sucked the last two years?

At least Belicheat was winning while cheating.

[JonLP24]

2. Pretty much

3 years before that they were 13-3, 10-6, 13-3. It would strike me as unusual if Atlanta is guilty here and only guilty in the last 2 seasons, that they started to cheat after the 2 division titles in 3 years. Last season Julio Jones suffered a season ending injury after an explosive start. This season Atlanta as well as the NFC South drew the AFC North which probably ranks as the toughest division top-to-bottom. Also drew Green Bay & Detroit as well.

On edit: career = season, have TD on my mind

[mythology]

3. If proven

Throw the book at them. All cheaters should be punished severely to provide an incentive to not cheat since apparently honor and self-respect doesn't cut it.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Or Write Some More Meaningful Rules

Apparently, there are a million ways to "cheat" That means the clarity of what is ok and what isn't is too vague.

This is why i couldn't get too worked up over slightly deflated footballs. I have zero doubt that every team engages in some level of gamesmanship that ultimately could be considered against the rules.

Perhaps there are too damn many rules (as in golf) or they are too vague and open to interpretation (as in golf)

[Iggo]

6. AND write some more meaningful rules.

[chelsea0011]

5. Haven't the Colts been doing this for years?

I always thought it was pretty clever. Kinda like Red Auerbach turning down the heat in opposing teams locker room. Anything to make the opponents uncomfortable always seemed fair game to me.