NFL Investigating Giants for Illegal Use of Walkie-Talkie vs. Cowboys

The New York Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys in a close 10-7 game Sunday, but they may have broken rules in the process.On Thursday,Paul Schwartz of the New York Postreported the Cowboys filed a request for the NFL to investigate whether New York violated any rules when head coach Ben McAdoo used a walkie-talkie to call plays in to Eli Manning after the radio transmitter in the quarterback's helmet malfunctioned in the fourth quarter.A source confirmed the report to ESPN.com's Todd Archer (h/t Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com).Raanan cited a source who said the NFL had already started its own investigation into whether New York was using two-way radios even though Schwartz's report said it stemmed from a formal complaint by Dallas.Schwartz noted the use of walkie-talkies is an issue because the league cannot ensure the coach and quarterback follow the rule that says communication with the sideline and signal-caller must stop with 15 seconds left on the play clock."I don't know when he was on the walkie-talkie or not," Manning said, per Schwartz. "I just knew it was back in my ear, and we were going."Despite the 15-second rule, Raanan wrote the backup quarterback can hold a two-way radio but cannot actually speak into it.Cowboysexecutive vice president Stephen Jones commented on the incident, perCharean Williams of the Star-Telegram: "We don't comment on things like that, but it's obvious to everybody what happened, and my understanding is it's being looked into and handled."The walkie-talkie couldn't have been much help for the New York offense considering the Giants didn't score a single point in the fourth quarter and found the end zone just once the entire game on a 61-yard slant route to Odell Beckham Jr. Still, the score gave New York the lead for good in the defensive struggle.Walkie-talkie assistance or not, Manning finished 17-of-28 for 193 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Those are not exactly head-turning numbers, but he did outplay his counterpart, Dak Prescott, who finished 17-of-37 for one touchdown and two interceptions.The Giants swept the season series against their division rival with the win and are the only team to beat the 11-2 Cowboys this season. New York is still two games back in the NFC East with just three contests remaining and will need more than walkie-talkies to make up that ground with time running out on the season.
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