The Patriots aren’t the only team that recently got good news from the league office regarding a potential violation of the injury-reporting rules. The Cowboys, who inadvertently put themselves under the 345 Park Avenue microscope regarding Tony Romo’s back injury, also received an all-clear from the powers-that-be.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello tells PFT that the Cowboys were informed last month that the league’s review concluded that there was no violation.
The problem arose after a Week 16 game at Washington, in which Romo tweaked his back and ultimately required surgery. Both Romo and owner Jerry Jones suggested after the win that Romo entered the game with a pre-existing back injury. A pre-existing back injury that hadn’t been disclosed on any injury reports.
It’s unclear how or why the Cowboys were cleared. Several years ago, the league handed out multiple fines months after former Jets quarterback Brett Favre had played with an undisclosed biceps tendon injury. The investigation discovered evidence that Favre had received treatment for the undisclosed injury.
As potential violations go, a hidden injury should cause far greater concern than the sour-grapes griping of a couple of former players who are quibbling with the extent and precise nature of injuries that were disclosed. Hiding injuries contradicts the very purpose of the injury report, which is to create the impression that there’s no inside information -- and thus no reason for guys with one eyebrow and multiple gold chains to make sizable cash donations to the folks who are in position to know, and to share, the truth.
