Dallas Cowboys

Giants fined $150K, Ben McAdoo docked $50K for using walkie-talkies against Cowboys

Published Dec. 20, 2016 5:56 p.m. ET

Nunzio Ingrassia

The New York Giants and head coach Ben McAdoo were fined by the league for illegally using walkie-talkies during their win over the Dallas Cowboys, the league announced Tuesday.

The team was fined $150,000 while McAdoo was docked $50,000. The league also moved the Giants’ fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft to the end of that round following any compensatory picks, but no more than 12 selection spots from where they finished in draft order for that round.

The Giants used the walkie-talkies for five plays early in the fourth quarter when the team’s communications system malfunctioned during their Week 14 game against the Cowboys. As the team attempted to fix McAdoo’s communications equipment, he was given a walkie-talkie as a substitute.

One NFL source told ESPN that even though Giants coaches weren't communicating with quarterback Eli Manning within 15 seconds of the play clock ending, which would be against the rules, they had the "opportunity" to do it. The use of two-way radios is not permitted by the league "because they will not be cut off when the Cutoff Switch Operator engages the cutoff."

New York went on to beat Dallas 10-7, ending the Cowboys' 11-game win streak and beating them for the second time this season.