The NFL has questions for Brian Daboll and the Giants.
After quarterback Jaxson Dart was pulled from Thursday’s win over the Eagles to be checked for a concussion late in the third quarter and replaced by Russell Wilson, Daboll gave the team’s head physician, Dr. Scott A. Rodeo, an earful and the NFL is investigating.
Dart was on the ground for an extended period, before running off the field and ran into the medical tent, as the Giants coach yelled at the doctor while the staff checked him for a concussion.
Dart missed just two plays, and the league is now investigating the application of the concussion protocol, they said, according to ESPN.
After the ugly incident, Daboll apologized for screaming at Dr. Rodeo and it is unclear what any potential punishment would be.
“If you’ve ever been on an NFL sideline, there’s a lot of emotions,” Daboll told reporters after the 34-17 triumph. “There’s a lot of emotions. And I certainly am an emotional guy. I apologized directly to our team physician. I just wanted his ass out there if he was OK. But I wanted the process — like, we were getting ready to go for it on a potential fourth down. I would have burned a timeout if he could have came out there. So, I was asking how long is it gonna take?
“So, again, you want your guy out there, not at risk of anything else. But, you know, he came out. ‘I think he’s gonna be good.’ I’m like, ‘Is he gonna be good or not? I’m gonna call a timeout on fourth down and go for this son of a bitch.’ You know what I mean? So, I love our doctors. . . . I apologize. I was in the wrong.”
Daboll wasn’t just yelling at the doctor — he also ran into the medical tent to check on the first-round pick, as did running back Cam Skattebo.
Dart wound up missing just two plays — including the fourth-down punt — before returning, while the Eagles’ offense scored zero points in the second half.
Some bystanders, including former Giants Super Bowl-winning kicker Lawrence Tynes, disagreed with Daboll’s visceral reaction to his doctor.
“Real bad look Daboll,” Tynes said. “Why the hell are you yelling at Dr. Rodeo. Have some damn composure and respect.”
The fans seemed just as frustrated as the coach.
Wilson swiftly came in and threw one pass, which was a poor ball that appeared to be tipped at the line of scrimmage and fell to the ground for an incompletion and boos rained down.
Daboll adds that he considered going for the fourth-and-9 from the Philadelphia 42-yard line with the Giants ahead, 27-17.
“And the crowd vents its frustration,” Al Michaels said on the broadcast. “They can’t wait for Dart to get back into the game.
“He wants to know whats going on and when he can get his quarterback back,” Kirk Herbstreit added.
“Uh oh,” Michaels continued. “Well, I don’t think he’s getting good news here. I could be wrong.”
Dart was not diagnosed with a concussion and returned to the game. He now has 10 days to rest up for a road game against Denver.
