Walkie-Talkie Controversy Shows Ridiculous NFL At Its Worst

In today’s NFL, there’s never a dearth of controversy. This week’s plot centers around New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo’s use of a walkie-talkie last week against the Dallas Cowboys. This is a one-day investigation at best. In today’s NFL, it takes a week. Irrespective of the team involved, this “investigation” clearly demonstrates the ridiculous nature of the league.

Ridiculous Rules

As reported by multiple media outlets last week, the Giants apparently used a walkie-talkie set during a sideline communications malfunction. Controversy arises because use of walkie-talkies by the head coach is deemed illegal by the NFL.

The reason for the rule is to prevent a competitive disadvantage. But the Giants’ league-run communication system was not working. That much is clear.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com on Dec. 18, 2016, “The Giants were not using the same frequency as the Cowboys, so they could not hear any of their play-calls. Not only is it not possible (it isn’t programmed that way), the communications system is monitored by a league employee wearing an orange hat and that was not found to be the case.:

The NFL is worried that the Giants communicated with quarterback Eli Manning during the last 15 seconds of the play clock. But they know he didn’t at this point, so what gives? We understand that the normal sideline-to-helmet communications cuts off by that point. But the league controls the walkie-talkie frequency. They knows first-hand, right now, if there was a violation.

Of course, take any simple matter and multiply it by ten when dealing with the NFL bureaucracy.

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) in the huddle with wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) and wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) and tight end Will Tye (45) during the game at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Ridiculous Owners

Now if anyone had a dog in this fight, it would have been the Dallas Cowboys. Lodging a complaint seems like the work of the Jones family, although they skirt the issue when asked.

“We don’t comment on things like that, but it’s obvious to everybody what happened, and my understanding is it’s being looked into and handled,” Stephen Jones said Thursday according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “If you’re asking me if it affected the outcome of the game? No.”

If the Cowboys filed the complaint, it should be closed based upon Jones’ comments. Pick a side Stephen Jones, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Unless you have Roger Goodell working for you.

So now the NFL acts like an overzealous hall monitor. Handing out fines because something “violates” their “rules”.

July 30, 2012; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones watches opening day of the Dallas Cowboys training camp. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Dec. 18, 2016 that the Giants are anticipating a fine. According to Schefter, “One NFL source said that even though the Giants weren’t communicating with Manning within 15 seconds of the play clock ending, they had the ‘opportunity’ to do it.”

Yes, and every time I get into my car, I have the “opportunity” to run a red light.

Quite frankly, the public grows tired of seeing grown men act like children.