Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff is bracing for the team’s penalties from the noise gate investigation, which could include the loss of a high draft pick possibly in the 2015 draft.
“We are just so full of scenarios and that’s kind of how we approach the offseason as it is,” Dimitroff said on 680 The Fan Friday morning. “We’ve been very detailed on how we are going to approach things if in fact we have availability at certain points in the draft.”
Dimitroff said the team doesn’t officially know of its plight, although there was an report that the team was informed of 'severe' penalties at the owners’ meeting.
“I do not know at this point, officially,” Dimitroff said. “I have not (received) word from the league.”
The league would not confirm that they have informed the Falcons of their penalty. The league will officially inform the Falcons via a written letter from commissioner Roger Goodell.
“I believe that we’ll be expecting something,” Dimitroff said. “Usually, when you get indication from the league it is via print.”
Dimitroff would not speculate on the penalty.
“I’m reading the same things that you are,” Dimitroff said. “Obviously, it’s been a process for us."
If the Falcons lose a pick, they’ll consider trading the eighth to pick to help recover the loss pick.
“We have to think about the long-term of course,” Dimitroff said. “It depends where that pick is going to affect us, if it does affect is. We will consider that, yes.”
The Falcons were investigated for piping in fake crowd noise through the Georgia Dome’s sound system for the past two seasons. The violations turned up in the regular league audit of sound levels.
The Falcons could be fined and possibly lose a draft choice. However, the league released the draft order on Tuesday and all of the Falcons’ eight picks for the 2015 draft were listed.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank admitted the team negligently crossed the line.
"It's not really a fine line," Blank told The Associated Press on Feb. 2. "I think what we've done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong. Anything that affects the competitive balance and fairness on the field, we're opposed to, as a league, as a club and as an owner. It's obviously embarrassing but beyond embarrassing it doesn't represent our culture and what we're about."
The Falcons were expecting to hear from the league by late February, early March.
Blank said he was “embarrassed and angered” when he found out in November that the franchise was being investigated by the league office.
“We cooperated fully,” Blank said “We certainly support the integrity of the league, the integrity of fair competition and the integrity of the shield. We are not happy about it.”
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COMBINE STORIES
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VIDEO DEPARTMENT
Watch: D. Led -- Falcons news at the combine
Watch: NFL Network's Mike Mayock at the combine
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Watch: Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff at the combine
Watch: Falcons coach Dan Quinn at the combine
Watch: Rams GM Les Snead on the pass-rush talent at the combine
FALCONS COMBINE MEETINGS
Oregon DE Arik Armstead talked scheme with the Falcons
Falcons met with Alabama quarterback Blake Sims
Falcons to meet with Florida DE Dante Fowler Jr.
Falcons met with Wake Forest CB Kevin Johnson
Falcons met with Alabama safety Landon Collins
PHOTO GALLERIES
Photographs from the 2015 NFL scouting combine
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