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 in Week 14, but they may have broken rules in the process.

On Dec. 15, Paul Schwartz and Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post reported that 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 in plays 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). NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that "the expectation is that the Giants will be penalized, likely in the form of a fine." ESPN's Ed Werder, citing a league source, reported that the situation is expected to be resolved on Tuesday.

"We've touched base with the league. We're working through it right now," McAdoo said on Friday, per Barbara Barker of Newsday. "I don't have anything to add, but we are working with the league." 

"We're working through the league, doing the best we can right now to help the investigation and we'll move on when we can move on," McAdoo said.

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 the New York Post's report said it stemmed from a formal complaint by Dallas.

Schwartz and Hubbuch noted that 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 the New York Post. "I just knew it was back in my ear, and we were going."

Despite the 15-second rule, Raanan noted that the backup quarterback can hold a two-way radio but cannot actually speak into it.

Stephen Jones, the Cowboys' executive vice president, commented on the incident, per Charean 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 12-2 Cowboys this season. New York is still two games back in the NFC East with just two contests remaining and will need more than walkie-talkies to make up that ground with time running out on the season.