Report: Falcons investigated for pumping crowd noise into stadium
The Atlanta Falcons are being investigated by the NFL for allegedly pumping artificial crowd noise into the Georgia Dome during home games, according to an ESPN report.
Citing an unnamed source, the report said the investigation centers specifically around using the noise to distract opposing teams in the huddle, and that employees from the team's Game Operations Department are the investigation's central focus. If found guilty, the team could face fines as well as the loss of a draft pick, according to the report.
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"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," a representative for the Falcons told ESPN in a statement.
This is not the first time artificial crowd noise allegations have affected an NFL team.
In 2013, the Washington Redskins were criticized by their own fans for allegedly pumping noise into FedExField. In October, Baltimore Ravens coach Jim Harbaugh indicated before a game against Indianapolis that the Colts used fake noise in their stadium, an accusation which Colts head coach Chuck Pagano termed as "an insult" to Indianapolis fans.
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