The Atlanta Falcons have allegedly pumped in crowd noise to make the Georgia Dome louder, and now could face NFL discipline, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Falcons being investigated for piping artificial crowd noise into their stadium the past two seasons, per sources. The offense is expected to result in discipline with the Falcons being fined and quite possibly losing a draft choice. A Falcons team spokesman said: “We were informed during the season that the league office is looking into crowd noise during our games. We have cooperated fully with them, and we’re awaiting the outcome." Atlanta is accused of piping in the noise while the opposing team was huddling, trying to call its play. The tactics originated from the Falcons' game operations department, per sources. Some around the league have argued that silent counts have rendered crowd noise more irrelevant and it’s difficult to discern how much of an advantage it gave the Falcons. But it was enough to have the league look into it, and now the Falcons are facing stiff penalties.
The Falcons are reportedly cooperating with the NFL’s investigation.
If these crowd noise allegations are proven, they would be considered a violation of game integrity by the NFL. Atlanta would not figure to get off easily or quietly, given the climate created by the New England Patriots' "Deflategate" scandal.
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