The Atlanta Falcons are expected to lose a draft pick and face other league punishment. The past two seasons, Atlanta allegedly added fake crowd noise through its speakers at the Georgia Dome while the opposing team was on offense. This was in hopes of distracting them. Arthur Blank, owner of the Falcons, admitted that they had done this. He said, ”I think what we’ve done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong.” ”Anything that affects the competitive balance and fairness on the field, we’re opposed to, as a league, as a club and as an owner. It’s obviously embarrassing but beyond embarrassing it doesn’t represent our culture and what we’re about.” Did this really effect the opposing teams?
The Falcons last year went 3-4 at home. They had a chance to win the division at home in week 17 but fell to the Carolina Panthers 34-3. In 2013 they went 3-5. It seems even though they were pumping in crowd noise it didn’t give them an advantage.
The Falcons were trying to have an edge over the opposing team but this could be a distraction to the defense of the Falcons as well. If the stadium sounded louder, the defense would have had a hard time communicating defensive calls and formations.
This was cheating. The Falcons were trying to obtain an advantage. It didn’t work since the last two years they were a combined 6-9 at home. Atlanta is going to receive a stiff punishment from the NFL.
According to ESPN, NFL Insider Adam Schefter, they will lose a draft pick. It isn’t expected that it will be this season, it may be next season. The Falcons President, Rich McKay, will also be disciplined for his involvement. It’s anticipated that he will be suspended from the Competition Committee. The penalty will be handed down on Tuesday.
The Falcons should be penalized for this. They were trying to have an advantage at home. It didn’t seem to work, though. Atlanta should be embarrassed about this situation. Their stadium is a dome and keeps crowd noises in. That makes it difficult for offenses to communicate with each other which could lead to offenses making mistakes. This is a tough place to play in already.
What discipline should the NFL put on the Atlanta Falcons?
Let’s have fun with this one. First half of the season …. 3 downs to make a first or punt or perish on third down. Or all season — 1st and 15. When will this idiotic cheating stop?
This league is digging its own grave. Cheating players, cheating owners; rules for protection from killer players. Phooey on the lot.
Cheating is wrong whever it occurs. What punishment the NFL gives them they deserve. Why not try to improve the team with better players?
Why did they continue to add crowd noise after they kept losing? They should be punished or it will send a bad message to the rest of the teams that this sort of cheating is ok (even if it didn’t work).
The noise didn’t seem to help. What I don’t understand is why they did it. A dome is loud anyway because it keeps the sound in.