wo days after the New York Giants appeared to fake an injury in
an attempt to slow down Sam Bradford and the Rams’ no-huddle
offense on Monday Night Football, the NFL sent a memo Wednesday to
all 32 teams.
By Manny Navarro – McClatchy Newspapers
MIAMI – Two days after the New York Giants appeared to fake an injury in an attempt to slow down Sam Bradford and the Rams’ no-huddle offense on Monday Night Football, the NFL sent a memo Wednesday to all 32 teams.
The warning: If you’re found guilty of feigning an injury to gain a competitive advantage, you could be fined, suspended or lose draft picks.
The Dolphins (0-2) probably don’t need to worry. But the NFL figures to perk up its ears after hearing reaction to the news across the league, including comments made by Dolphins running back Reggie Bush on Wednesday.
“We actually had that before in New Orleans,” Bush said, referring to the fake injury play. “It’s just one of those things when you get those hurry-up offensive teams. I mean, it’s legal. They haven’t made any rules yet to say it’s not legal.
“… For the most part you’re supposed to have a designated guy for that. It’s not supposed to be four or five guys falling on the ground at the same time. Obviously that looks real bush league.”
The Cleveland Browns (1-1) don’t run the no-huddle, but employ an efficient West Coast offense that could still cause the Dolphins defense, which is ranked 32nd overall, 22nd against the rush and 30th against the pass, fits Sunday.
Quarterback Colt McCoy, with 10 career starts, isn’t nearly as polished as the first two quarterbacks the Dolphins faced. But he is off to a good start, completing 56.9 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and one interception.
“Colt gets the ball out pretty quick,” Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. “He has the ability to hurt you running, which the last two weeks it hasn’t really been the case. This guy gets out, extends the play, can hurt you running. And when he gets out of the pocket, he’s looking to hurt you down the field _ a la like a Michael Vick-type thing. … You got to do a good job down the field or he’s going to catch you for a big play.”
Bigger on the Dolphins agenda than slowing down McCoy, bruising tailback Peyton Hills or talented return man and the AFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week Josh Cribbs is solving their offensive red zone woes.
Sparano said his team is “right around the eighth-worst” in the league (four TDs in 10 trips) – the result of penalties, sacks and turnovers as much as poor execution.
“With Bill (Parcells) we had a rule all the time down there about no penalties, no exotic snap counts, no sacks, no turnovers. Those were our red-zone rules,” Sparano said. “Well, we keep those rules all the time, and the quarterback can recite those rules and everybody can recite those rules. It’s one thing talking about them. It’s another doing them. We have to do a better job in that area when it comes to that.”
