Brian Daboll explains his side of Giants medical tent squabble

Brian Daboll might have crossed a metaphorical line when he peeked his head into the injury tent during Jaxon Dart’s concussion test. 

The NFL initiated a review Friday that will be conducted jointly with the Players Association to investigate whether the Giants and Daboll correctly adhered to concussion protocol in clearing Dart. 

Teams can be fined up to $150,000 for first violations of the protocol. 

“I stuck my head in to see how our quarterback was doing,” Daboll said. “Just asked him, ‘How are you doing?’ In no way would I want a player to come back out there that wasn’t ready to play. I think I have great respect for that process.” 

Running back Cam Skattebo also popped in to check on Dart. 

It’s a worse look that Daboll also was yelling at team physician Dr. Scott Rodeo. 

Daboll said he apologized to Rodeo, but the NFL likely will not look kindly on a coach whose authority could blur the lines of player safety. 

Giants owner John Mara is on the NFL’s Health and Safety committee. 

“That’s very important to him,” Daboll said. “We spoke about that. I was wondering if it takes 10 minutes, if it takes an hour, if it takes two minutes. … However long it’s going to be is how long it’s going to be relative to making a game-time decision.” 

Mara said in a statement Friday that he addressed the incident with his coach. 

“I spoke to Coach Daboll this morning about approaching the medical tent last night,” he said. “While I firmly believe, as he has stated, that he was not trying to influence the process in any way, he understands that the appearance of going to the tent is inappropriate. We have protocols in place as a league to ensure player safety, and we need to allow our medical staff to execute those protocols without interference. We understand the situation is under review by the NFL and the NFLPA, and obviously we will cooperate fully.” 

Of course, Daboll has plenty of experience during his coaching career with how long concussion tests last. His fiery sideline demeanor has caused him headaches before, but nothing with league involvement. 

Daboll said Friday that he had not heard from the league but “we’ll abide by all those rules.” 

Dart missed the final two plays of a drive that ended in a punt — Daboll suggested fourth-down play calling might have been different if he knew Dart was going to be cleared in time to return to the game — and returned at the start of the next series. 

“Health and safety is important to us, it’s important to me,” Daboll said. “I do have respect for the process.” 

In a coincidence, NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills was on hand Thursday to offer the media a pregame health and safety tour at MetLife Stadium that included a tour of the sideline medical tent and concussion protocol. The point was made that it is for medical experts only. 

“Never any coaches in here, never any other players in here, never anybody else in here,” Sills told The Associated Press. 

The Seahawks were fined $100,000 in 2017 for violating the concussion protocol with Russell Wilson, who played the two plays for the Giants in place of Dart. The Texans in 2017 and Panthers in 2018 were not disciplined after investigations into their handling of the protocol as quarterbacks were assessed. 

Players who pass an in-game concussion test are required to be re-tested the next morning. Dart’s results were not immediately known. 

“I know he has been in early watching tape,” Daboll said. “We’ll go through the rest of that procedure and see where we are at after the next few days.”