Falcons stripped of 2016 draft pick
ATLANTA, GA (The Spread) – Following its investigation into “Noisegate,” the NFL has decided to strip the Atlanta Falcons of a draft pick in 2016.
The league has decided to take away a 2016 fifth-round draft pick from the Falcons after the team broke NFL rules by piping in crowd noise to the Georgia Dome during games over the last two years. Atlanta reportedly pumped fake noise through its stadium speakers when opposing offenses were huddling.
“I think what we’ve done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong,” owner Arthur Blank admitted in February. “Anything that affects the competitive balance and fairness on the field, we’re opposed to.”
The NFL also suspended team president Rich McKay from the league’s competition committee and fined the franchise $350,000. Seeing as how there were rumors that the Falcons could lose a third or perhaps even a second-round selection in this year’s draft, the punishment for Atlanta could have been much worse.
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