The NFL promised to take a look at the Falcons, after one of their assistant coaches asked a player at the combine if he liked men.
But after gauging the team’s response, the league has decided not to punish them any further.
“We spent a fair amount of time on that this week,” commissioner Roger Goodell said yesterday at the conclusion of the owners meetings. “I spoke to [head coach] Dan Quinn and I actually spoke to the coach who was involved in this matter. I think the Falcons, as an organization, and Dan Quinn as a head coach, and the coach who was involved, have all taken ownership of this issue, recognized the mistake that was made, have been very forthcoming and have taken the appropriate steps to educate everyone.
“The coach and I spent probably 20 minutes on the phone talking about his learning experiences, how he can use this for a positive step and I was impressed with the way he was handling it. The team has taken on training programs within the organization which I think are all very satisfactory. So I don’t see any further steps at the league level at this point.”
The Falcons were quick to apologize, and offered up secondary coach Marquand Manuel as the questioner. He came through with his own apology.
The swift response was necessary simply because it was the wrong thing to do, but the timing was also politically expedient, as the Falcons try to land the biggest game of the year.
The Falcons are trying to get a Super Bowl for their new stadium in 2019 or 2020, and the NFL is trying to use their leverage to influence a “religious liberty” law in Georgia which could opponents think would legalize anti-gay discrimination.
