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New York Giants defensive back Deon Grant is helped up by trainers during the first quarter against the St. Louis Rams on Monday. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

NFL memo warns teams on faking injuries

After Monday night controversy, several players admit faking is an accepted practice, and some coaches hinted they are not above condoning phony injuries if it provides a competitive edge.

TO THE FAKE handoff and fake field goals, add fake injuries.

The NFL sent a memo yesterday to all 32 teams warning of fines, suspensions and loss of draft picks if the league determines players faked injuries during a game.

Yet several players admit its an accepted practice, and some coaches hinted they are not above condoning phony injuries if it provides a competitive edge.

“I’ve been places where it has been (taught),” said Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, a member of the players’ union executive committee.

“They have a name for it and I’ve been places where it’s been pre-called. I’ve been places where it’s one player who has been designated. Maybe I’m getting everyone in trouble, but I’m just being honest.”

In the memo obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL reminded teams of league policy that calls on coaches to discourage the practice. There is no specific rule on the topic.

Nonetheless, two days after there was speculation the Giants’ Deon Grant faked an injury against the Rams during Monday night’s game, the NFL is warning of disciplinary action.

“It’s always been in the game,” Ravens All-Pro safety Ed Reed said. “It’s all tactical stuff you need to use. Whatever it takes. … If you’re tired, you’re tired. You get a break however you can.”

Added 49ers running back Frank Gore: “Hey, I feel if it helps, do it. I’m bound to do it. Whatever it takes to win …”

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    Mute Ciaran Dineen
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    Jul 28th 2016, 10:18 AM

    Delighted for the lad! Would be great if in the future more young Irish players could come back for half a season play some LOI and go back with that bit of experience, seems to have done Eoghan no harm

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    Mute john f
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    Jul 28th 2016, 11:07 AM

    Ambrose and boyata are both a liability,simunovic still an unknown quantity so I’d say it’s a toss up between o Connell and kolo to partner sviatchenko.would be great to see eoghan nail down a regular spot and continue his progress

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    Mute Chlorines72
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    Jul 28th 2016, 11:04 AM

    That is brilliant news for Celtic and Ireland.

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    Mute Chlorines72
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    Jul 28th 2016, 11:05 AM

    I watched the match – O’Connell showed great character throughout the game.

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    Mute Davy Hughes
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    Jul 28th 2016, 2:55 PM

    Can’t but read Rogers interview in his voice

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    Mute blueman79
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    Jul 28th 2016, 1:03 PM

    Lads…. were ye watching a different game,,, he was 100% to blame for the goal…. lost his man completely

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    Mute Ciaran Rice
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    Jul 28th 2016, 1:12 PM

    Blueman, you’re right, the goal was his fault but his head didn’t go down after it as most young players would and he went from strength to strength as the game went on.

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    Mute Jeremy McCarthy
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    Jul 28th 2016, 1:13 PM

    It’s a zonal marking system, therefore no man to lose. Although he could have been better for it so could every other defender in the box and if Gordon stayed on his line maybe it wouldn’t have been a goal so 100% is very harsh on the the young fella. For a 20 y/o making his first European start in a notoriously tough place to go he done very little wrong and was one of Celtics better players. If you were watching the match and not just the goal you would have seen that!

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    Mute john f
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    Jul 28th 2016, 1:25 PM

    O Connell did well all things taken into account,good result to take back to glasgow

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    Mute blueman79
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    Jul 28th 2016, 1:48 PM

    Fact is the goal was his fault, you can dress it up anyway you want,… football at the highest level is a harsh game, and goals decide games, if he wasn’t a young irish player playing for celtic , people wouldn’t be raving about his performance and making excuses for his defending for the goal… think we need to take off the green white and gold glasses here…. and I did watch the full game

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    Mute john f
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    Jul 28th 2016, 1:52 PM

    Blueman there’s nobody bigging him up.if simunovic can be kept fit and playing regularly,o connell won’t get much game time.at the moment he’s the pick of a bad bunch and just a potentially good defender

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    Mute Jeremy McCarthy
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    Jul 28th 2016, 2:47 PM

    Blueman get a grip ffs. He’s 20 years of age, made one or two small mistakes in the biggest game of his career to date. Start blaming the young man now and giving him abuse about the goal could shatter his confidence, that’s why he’s being praised. Attitudes like yours is the reason a lot of talented youngsters don’t make it in the game!

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    Mute blueman79
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    Jul 28th 2016, 3:50 PM

    Hahaha…. one or two small mistakes???… wouldn’t call losing his man for a goal in a champions lge game a small mistake. … its quite a significant one. If young pros can’t take a bit of criticism they may as well forget about a career in the game…. and I thought he he will let a bit of criticism on the 42 get to him… if he he was that type of character he would never have made it this far

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    Mute Jeremy McCarthy
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    Jul 28th 2016, 4:07 PM

    You said people wouldn’t be raving about his performance if he wasn’t Irish or playing for Celtic. Well this is an Irish site and an article about Celtic, so obviously people who have a better understanding of the game than yourself (and people who really watched the game) think he merits praise for his performance! And if you’re a Celtic supporter you should be ashamed of yourself :-/

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    Mute blueman79
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    Jul 29th 2016, 3:27 AM

    I am not a celtic fan … I am looking at the game… which I watched in full from an unbiased point of view… it’d obvious your biased towards him, , and if u can’t see he was at fault for that goal than it is you who doesn’t really know that much about football….

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