NFL: NFL tells teams to stop faking the funk

[Statick]

FLOWERY BRANCH – The NFL has sent a memo to all 32 teams to advise them not to fake injuries when teams are running their no-huddle offenses.

“The Competition Committee deprecates feigning injuries, with subsequent withdrawal, to obtain a timeout without penalty,” the memo stated. “Coaches are urged to cooperate in discouraging this practice.”

During the Falcons’ two 80-yard touchdown drives late in their 35-31 victory over the Eagles, they did not fake any injuries to slow them down.

On Monday, the Giants had some questionable and timely injuries to slow down St. Louis.

As a result, Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said Tuesday the team will file a complaint with the NFL office.

The Falcons are not anticipating that teams will try to slow them down by faking injuries.

“We can’t control that,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “We can just control what we do and that will remain our focus.”

Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris addressed the “strategy.”

“I don’t coach the Giants,” Morris said. “I coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but [it was] great coaching technique by whomever. We are just trying to win football games.”

The league noted in the memo that teams will be subjected to disciplinary action for “conduct detrimental to the game” for faking injuries.

“Discipline could include fines of coaches, players, and clubs, suspensions or forfeiture of draft choices,” the memo read.

Defenses are feeling desperate around the league because they feel the rules have been tilted in favor of offenses under of the guise of player safety. There have been 172 touchdowns scored, the most ever in the first two weeks of an NFL season.

“I believe that there are going to be a lot of points scored in the league,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “So far, through the first two weeks, it sure seems like that’s the trend. Defenses are going to have to try to figure out ways to slow people down.”