Football Texture/iStockphoto(NEW YORK) — The National Football League fined the Atlanta Falcons $350,000 on Monday for piping in crowd noise during home games at the Georgia Dome over the past two seasons.
The Falcons will also have their fifth-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft taken away. If they have multiple picks in that round, the league will dock the highest selection.
“What took place was wrong and nowhere near the standards by which we run our business,” Falcons owner and chairman Arthur Blank said in a statement. “Anytime there are actions that compromise the integrity of the NFL or threaten the culture of our franchise, as this issue did, they will be dealt with swiftly and strongly.”
The NFL also suspended Falcons president Rich McKay from the league’s competition committee from April 1 through at least June 30.
“The Falcons and all of our other businesses are built upon a foundation of values that drive our decision making,” said Blank. “The issue was a clear failure in that regard. I apologize for any embarrassment this situation has caused the NFL, our fans and our Falcons players and associates.”
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