Ex-Giants Linebacker Says Team Coaches Players to Fake Injuries

A former Giants linebacker told a radio station on Wednesday that New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell coaches his players to fake injuries.

St. Louis Rams linebacker Bryan Kehl, who played in a single game for the Giants in 2010, claimed that Fewell teaches his players to fake injuries - like some allege safety Deon Grant did on Monday night.

Perry Fewell coaches that, Kehl told ESPN 101's Howard Balzer. He's their DC [defensive coordinator]. He coaches that.

The hubbub centers around Grant falling to the ground with a knee injury during the first half of a game against the St. Louis Rams on Monday night. Bradford and the Rams were easily driving down the field running a no-huddle offense before Grant and linebacker Jacquian Williams fell to the ground.

The Rams believe that Grant purposely fell to the ground - faking an injury - in order to slow down the Rams' fast moving, no-huddle offense.

I was pretty upset, Rams quarterback Sam Bradford told reporters after the game. They couldn't get subbed, they couldn't line up, so two of their guys they literally ... they told them. Someone said, 'Someone go down, someone go down,' so someone just went down and grabbed a cramp and I was pretty frustrated about that.

ESPN announcers speculated that Grant might be faking an injury, as have multiple Rams players, but Grant strongly defended himself after receiving a lot of criticism.

I wanna ask a question: From the first time I touched the football field, how many games (have) I (missed)? Grant told ESPN on Wednesday. None, right? None. Now to this day I got two torn MCLs. I just had wrist surgery two years ago. I had a hole in my labrum and a torn rotator cuff. I (haven't) missed (any) games.

The NFL issued a memo on Wednesday, likely from all of the attention paid to Monday night's game, telling teams that players faking injuries will not be tolerated.

Going forward, be advised that should the league office determine that there is reasonable cause, all those suspected of being involved in faking injuries will be summoned promptly to this office ... to discuss the matter, a league memo stated. Those found to be violators will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action for conduct detrimental to the game.