Faking Injuries: Gamesmanship or Cheating?

[Tai]

its pretty pathetic IMO...but so is d.wade falling to the ground like he just got shot anytime someone comes near him...

you saw it in the chargers/pats game too with players calling down, and back out there on the next play. Heck, brady stood over one fake injured player..

its something that I think is just hard to prove...but something has to be done about it before it starts to become widespread IMO

Well, it will become widespread if Goodell takes Stern's approach to flopping...Setting policy that's never enforced.

I know rite. 

And to answer the question, there's nothing we can really do about it. I do wanna know where the sudden influx of Euros in the NFL came from.

[Tai]

Hmm, but for what it's worth, apparently the NFL is paying attention, and is not amused.

The NFL sent a memo Wednesday to all 32 teams warning of fines, suspensions and loss of draft picks if the league determines players faked injuries during a game. Yet several players admit it's an accepted practice, and some coaches hinted they are not above condoning phony injuries if it provides a competitive edge.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7000274/nfl-threatens-fines-suspensions-faking-injuries

[CDawg834]

I'd say it should be an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but again, how can you prove that they are faking?  The problem here is that the Giants players were so blatantly obvious that the league must take notice.

Here's my attempt at a solution: If play is stopped for an injury, the team can either A) use one of their timeouts, or B) the injured player cannot return for the rest of that series, rather than sit out one play like they do now.  If the play they were injured on was the final play of the series, then he must sit out the following series that his unit (be it defense or offense) is on the field. 

If the team uses a timeout, the player can return whenever he is ready.  I think it would definitely cut down on the faking if a player knew he would have to sit out for awhile.

[Finkelskyhook]

I'd say it should be an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but again, how can you prove that they are faking?  The problem here is that the Giants players were so blatantly obvious that the league must take notice.

Here's my attempt at a solution: If play is stopped for an injury, the team can either A) use one of their timeouts, or B) the injured player cannot return for the rest of that series, rather than sit out one play like they do now.  If the play they were injured on was the final play of the series, then he must sit out the following series that his unit (be it defense or offense) is on the field. 

If the team uses a timeout, the player can return whenever he is ready.  I think it would definitely cut down on the faking if a player knew he would have to sit out for awhile.

If they changed the rule that the player would have to sit out the series...You'd see a quick substitution of an obscure special teams player to fake the injury on the next play.

It's exactly like flopping, IMHO.  As soon as the commissioner sets a precedent which actually has teeth, the crap stops.  Until then, the sleaziness continues.

The difference between the two leagues is that I think the NFL players and coaches actually believe Goodell.  When a person watches an NBA game and then hears the commissioner telling us that there is no preferential treatment...He sounds about as credible as a polititian.

[BballTim]

I'd say it should be an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but again, how can you prove that they are faking?  The problem here is that the Giants players were so blatantly obvious that the league must take notice.

Here's my attempt at a solution: If play is stopped for an injury, the team can either A) use one of their timeouts, or B) the injured player cannot return for the rest of that series, rather than sit out one play like they do now.  If the play they were injured on was the final play of the series, then he must sit out the following series that his unit (be it defense or offense) is on the field. 

If the team uses a timeout, the player can return whenever he is ready.  I think it would definitely cut down on the faking if a player knew he would have to sit out for awhile.

  The problem is (based on observation) the player that's most likely to sit out a play is the qb, and making him sit down for a series cost the team a drive and rewards the defense for things like late hits on him.

[CDawg834]

I'd say it should be an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but again, how can you prove that they are faking?  The problem here is that the Giants players were so blatantly obvious that the league must take notice.

Here's my attempt at a solution: If play is stopped for an injury, the team can either A) use one of their timeouts, or B) the injured player cannot return for the rest of that series, rather than sit out one play like they do now.  If the play they were injured on was the final play of the series, then he must sit out the following series that his unit (be it defense or offense) is on the field. 

If the team uses a timeout, the player can return whenever he is ready.  I think it would definitely cut down on the faking if a player knew he would have to sit out for awhile.

  The problem is (based on observation) the player that's most likely to sit out a play is the qb, and making him sit down for a series cost the team a drive and rewards the defense for things like late hits on him.

My idea certainly isn't foolproof...but a QB isn't gonna fake an injury anytime soon   

My counter to that would be to make this rule apply specifically to defensive players, since the faking is being done solely to slow a no-huddle offense.

[wdleehi]

Hmm, but for what it's worth, apparently the NFL is paying attention, and is not amused.

The NFL sent a memo Wednesday to all 32 teams warning of fines, suspensions and loss of draft picks if the league determines players faked injuries during a game. Yet several players admit it's an accepted practice, and some coaches hinted they are not above condoning phony injuries if it provides a competitive edge.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7000274/nfl-threatens-fines-suspensions-faking-injuries

NFL blowing their horns, yet nothing happening towards the Giants.




Again, how do you prove a player wasn't hurt unless he admits it?

[guava_wrench]

It is a lack of integrity. It is taking advantage of the fact that we have concern for them as people and for their well-being.

Unfortunately, it can be avoided. Most people aren't going to maintain their integrity when they want to win, especially when they know others are gaining advantages by lacking integrity.

The tough NBA rules that charge timeouts would be tough to implement in the NFL where there are far more injuries and where timeouts are so much more valuable due to the running time in between plays.

[ben]

i have a solution.  Provide each team with 3 injury timeouts.  teams are forced to use these each time a player gets an injury, fake or otherwise.  When a team runs out of injury time outs, they are penalized five yards for each injury. 

Without this rule, teams will strategically fake injuries with regularity. 

[BballTim]

The NFL sent a memo Wednesday to all 32 teams warning of fines, suspensions and loss of draft picks if the league determines players faked injuries during a game. Yet several players admit it's an accepted practice, and some coaches hinted they are not above condoning phony injuries if it provides a competitive edge.

  At the bottom of the memo, underlined and in bold it says "this means you, Belichik, especially the part about losing draft picks!".

[Fafnir]

i have a solution.  Provide each team with 3 injury timeouts.  teams are forced to use these each time a player gets an injury, fake or otherwise.  When a team runs out of injury time outs, they are penalized five yards for each injury. 

Without this rule, teams will strategically fake injuries with regularity. 

Does faking happen more often than 3 times per half? If so this reform would lead to more faking as teams would always use up their 3 injury timeouts.

[Donoghus]

The NFL sent a memo Wednesday to all 32 teams warning of fines, suspensions and loss of draft picks if the league determines players faked injuries during a game. Yet several players admit it's an accepted practice, and some coaches hinted they are not above condoning phony injuries if it provides a competitive edge.

  At the bottom of the memo, underlined and in bold it says "this means you, Belichik, especially the part about losing draft picks!".

If anything this tactic has been used against Belichick this season not by him. 

Pats have been running a ton of no-huddle/high tempo offense so far and ploys like fake injuries would be a prime example of how a defense can slowdown that offense.

[ben]

i have a solution.  Provide each team with 3 injury timeouts.  teams are forced to use these each time a player gets an injury, fake or otherwise.  When a team runs out of injury time outs, they are penalized five yards for each injury. 

Without this rule, teams will strategically fake injuries with regularity. 

Does faking happen more often than 3 times per half? If so this reform would lead to more faking as teams would always use up their 3 injury timeouts.

true, it would make sense to use all of your injury timeouts if it gives you an advantage.  At least there would be a limit to how many times you can do this, as opposed to making the no huddle offense useless due to unlimited fake injuries.  

[Fafnir]

i have a solution.  Provide each team with 3 injury timeouts.  teams are forced to use these each time a player gets an injury, fake or otherwise.  When a team runs out of injury time outs, they are penalized five yards for each injury. 

Without this rule, teams will strategically fake injuries with regularity. 

Does faking happen more often than 3 times per half? If so this reform would lead to more faking as teams would always use up their 3 injury timeouts.

true, it would make sense to use all of your injury timeouts if it gives you an advantage.  At least there would be a limit to how many times you can do this, as opposed to making the no huddle offense useless due to unlimited fake injuries.  

I have yet to see a game where the 3 injury time out limit would come into play due to fake injuries.

No huddle offenses even when they are going aren't stopped that often by fake injuries.

[Finkelskyhook]

i have a solution.  Provide each team with 3 injury timeouts.  teams are forced to use these each time a player gets an injury, fake or otherwise.  When a team runs out of injury time outs, they are penalized five yards for each injury. 

Without this rule, teams will strategically fake injuries with regularity. 

Can we somehow apply this to the NBA and call it the Glenn Davis Flop Rule?