2:25pm: In response to the league’s fines, the Saints organization released a statement to the media “(denying) any allegations of purposefully delaying the game,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The team used the opportunity to fully explain their side of the situation. They claim that “Jordan felt foot pain following a third down play and sought medical attention.” They explain how he was taken to the blue medical tent and examined by the medical staff. Following the examination, Jordan was reportedly taped up and it was determined he would be able to finish the game.
Following the game, the Saints claim Jordan underwent an MRI in New Orleans that confirmed he had suffered an acute mid-foot sprain in his left foot. They further claim that Jordan has been continuously receiving daily treatment for the injury since the game.
The team finishes their statement by assuring that they will appeal the fines and that they believe they will be vindicated. It will be interesting to see how the league and teams respond to this situation. The NFL clearly felt sure enough in their decision to levy heavy fines on multiple parties. If the league denies the legitimacy of the injury, how do teams prove that injuries are real in the future? Certainly, more will come from this as the team’s appeal moves forward in the weeks to come.
12:24pm: During the fourth quarter of the Saints’ loss to the Buccaneers on Monday night, New Orleans defensive end Cameron Jordan went down with an apparent leg issue, requiring an injury stoppage. The NFL has since determined that Jordan faked the injury, and as a result, they have slapped the player, Saints coaches, and the organization with a hefty fine.
Sources tell Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com that Jordan and co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen were fined $50K, head coach Dennis Allen was fined $100K, and the Saints organization was fined $350K. As Florio notes, the issue only came to light when Jordan complained about the fines of Twitter.
“I just feel like this should be public knowledge,” Jordan tweeted. “‘Cause some of the fines are silly but this 1… ridiculous. Anyways & for what a ‘deliberate action to delay game’ before a [team] punts?”
Per Florio, the play in question occurred midway through the fourth quarter. Following a seven-yard pickup, the Buccaneers and Tom Brady were facing a fourth-and-10 and had no intention of huddling. A source told Florio that a camera angle showed “Jordan receiving direction from the sideline to go down,” and the player followed suit. The refs called an injury stoppage, and the Buccaneers decided to punt when play resumed. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets that Jordan had an MRI on his ankle and rehabbed during the bye week.
Florio tweeted last week that the NFL sent a memo to teams warning of “deliberate actions to delay the game.” The memo mentioned possible punishments, including suspensions and/or the loss of draft picks. Florio notes that this was also emphasized at league meetings, and the NFL reminded teams of potential punishment during training camp. According to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter), the $500K in total fines is the minimum punishment a team could face.
Five teams have been hit with fines for faking injuries this season, per Florio. That includes the Bengals, according to Pelissero on Twitter, with Bengals safety Jessie Bates getting slapped with a $50K fine last week.
