Football NFL probing Mangini's role in Favre injury case

[GotGibson?]

Browns coach Eric Mangini can't seem to escape from New York.

The NFL is investigating Mangini's role in the Jets' failure to list quarterback Brett Favre's arm problem on injury reports last season. Mangini coached the Jets during Favre's one season in New York before he was fired after the team collapsed down the stretch.

Last week, Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum admitted the club should have listed Favre, who had a torn biceps tendon, as "probable" on the injury report for the last four or five games. Favre said the Jets knew of the injury, which required offseason surgery.

Spokesman Greg Aiello said Mangini's actions will be examined as part of the league's inquiry.

"Since he was head coach of the Jets at the time, we are reviewing his role in the situation as part of the overall review," Aiello said in an e-mail response to The Associated Press.

On Monday, commissioner Roger Goodell said he expects to rule on the matter this week. The Jets and Mangini could be subject to a fine.

Mangini said he has always abided by the league's guidelines for injury reports.

"That was true there [New York]. It's true here," Mangini said. "It'll be true every week of the season and that's how we approach it."

Goodell said the Favre case is an opportunity to stress that all teams must abide by the injury report rules.

"We establish policies. They're to be followed. And all 32 clubs are going to be held accountable for that and, unfortunately, when someone violates it, the other 31 know that," he said.

 

[GotGibson?]

NFL fines Jets $75K, Mangini $25K in Favre case

The NFL assessed a total of $125,000 in fines to the New York Jets and former coach Eric Mangini on Wednesday for violating the league's rules on injury reporting with regard to former quarterback Brett Favre last season.

The Jets failed to place Favre, now with the Minnesota Vikings, on the injury report during the final month of last season, even though he had a torn biceps tendon.

The league announced it had fined the Jets $75,000, and Mangini and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum $25,000 apiece. Mangini now coaches the Cleveland Browns.

"We have been fully cooperative with the league throughout this investigation and respect their decision," the Jets said in a statement.

Mangini was not immediately available for comment on his fine.

Hiding injuries could affect an opponent's preparation, and the NFL has stepped up policing such practices. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that the case would be an opportunity for the league to stress that all teams must abide by the injury report rules.

Last week, Tannenbaum admitted the Jets should have listed Favre as "probable" on their injury reports. That came a day after Favre said he thought he was hurting the Jets because of the injury and had discussed it with the coaches and the front office. He said he would have been willing to sit out, even though that would have ended his streak of consecutive starts, which now stands at 270 games.

Tannenbaum said the team didn't list Favre on the report because the injury wasn't severe enough to require daily treatment and there was never any doubt Favre would play. Tannenbaum also assumed full responsibility for the mistake.

Mangini said he has always abided by the league's guidelines for injury reports.

"That was true there [in New York]. It's true here," Mangini said. "It'll be true every week of the season and that's how we approach it."

Favre led the Jets to an 8-3 start and first place in the AFC East. But he threw nine interceptions down the stretch and the team lost four of its last five games, missing the playoffs.

He retired after the season, and was later released by the Jets. He came out of retirement -- for the second time -- last month and signed with Minnesota.

Favre told reporters last week he may not be able to play all 16 games with the Vikings, even after the biceps tendon was surgically repaired. He said he's playing with a torn rotator cuff and suggested he might have a cracked rib.

Favre completed 14 of 21 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' season-opening 34-20 win over Mangini's Browns on Sunday.