Atlanta Falcons: Fines, Lost Draft Picks & Suspension of President for Fake Noise

The Atlanta Falcons are facing fines and losing draft picks after getting caught pumping artificial noise into their stadium. The team will lose $350,00 and must forfeit their fifth-round draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. The team's President, Rich McKay, is also facing a suspension of up to three months due to a decision by the Competition Committee on April 1st.

While McKay will be facing a hefty suspension for the artificial noise, he wasn't the perpetrator. The one directly responsible for it was former NFL Falcon turned Director of Event Marketing Roddy White. Apparently White was in possession of an audio file with crowd noise.

The NFL released a statement on the fake crowd noise Wednesday.

"Our review also determined that Falcons ownership and senior executives, including team President Rich McKay, were unaware of Mr. White's use of an audio file with artificial crowd noise," the statement read. "However, Mr. McKay, as the senior club executive overseeing game operations, bears some responsibility for ensuring that team employees comply with league rules."

.@AtlantaFalcons fined $350K, forfeit 2016 draft pick: https://t.co/hkaMImRBAN pic.twitter.com/xPNEoJAPIK

— NFL (@nfl) March 30, 2015

Team owner, Arthur Blank, said he would not be appealing the NFL's decision even though McKay was unaware of what White was doing. Blank admits his team was in the wrong. His only plan is to make sure that type of folly doesn't happen again. "Anytime there are actions that compromise the integrity of the NFL or threaten the culture of our franchise, as this issue did, they will be dealt with swiftly and strongly," Blank said. While White did his best to help the team, the extra noise didn't end up being a factor. The Falcons were third in their division with a losing record of 6-10 in 2014. They were 24th in rushing, 32nd in opposing passing yards, 21st in opposing rushing yards and 5th in passing yards. The fact that the Falcons are losing a draft pick for this year probably won't hurt them too much as this year, the Falcons will have eight to choose from.

What are your expectations for CB Robert Alford in 2015 coming off his 2014 wrist injury? #RiseUp #Falcons A photo posted by Atlanta Falcons (@atlantafalcons) on Mar 31, 2015 at 1:51pm PDT