Right on the tail of the accusations that the New York Giants faked injuries on Monday night against the Rams, the NFL sent out a memo to all teams letting them know that there will be punishment if they find players faking injuries.

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It has been common practice for years in the NFL for a player to fake an injury in order to slow things down.  That whole thing could be coming to a stop now.  The NFL has apparently had enough of "the boy who cried wolf" scenario and is now threatening punishment for players and teams caught faking injuries on the field, and the punishments are no joke.

In a memo sent out to every team in the league yesterday the NFL has said that if they determine that you are faking an injury the punishment will result in fines, suspensions and even the loss of draft picks for the team.  Perhaps teams will now be thinking twice before having someone lay down on the field in order to catch their breath.  This is such common practice that Browns linebacker Scott Fujita said that there is even a name for it in some places.

I've been places where it has been taught. They have a name for it and I've been places where it's been pre-called. I've been places where it's one player who has been designated. Maybe I'm getting everyone in trouble, but I'm just being honest.

-Scott Fujita

The NFL discourages the practice of this, and with the rules in place coaches will be much more careful before telling a man to go down.  The memo from the league said:

Going forward, be advised that should the league office determine that there is reasonable cause, all those suspected of being involved in faking injuries will be summoned promptly to this office ... to discuss the matter. Those found to be violators will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action for conduct detrimental to the game.

The New York Giants seem to be taking the most heat for this, but they are not alone in this practice.  Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said on Tuesday that he was unaware that members of his team were faking injuries.

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