The NFL is nearing the end of its tampering investigations involving the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles, and it appears that one of the teams could face hefty penalty.
Atlanta is under investigation for allegedly speaking with and recruiting quarterback Kirk Cousins before league rules allowed. The Eagles have faced similar charges regarding their treatment of standout running back Saquon Barkley. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Sunday that the league will most likely release its findings in the tampering investigations this week.
According to Schefter, the Falcons’ alleged transgressions are considered “more significant” than Philadelphia’s, and Atlanta’s punishment is expected to be “severe.”
There is plenty of precedent for severe penalty if a team is proven to have violated tampering rules. The Miami Dolphins lost their 2023 first-round and 2024 third-round picks after the league discovered that they broke tampering rules on many occasions between 2019 and 2022 while attempting to recruit Tom Brady and Sean Payton. The Dolphins’ owner, Stephen Ross, was also fined $1.5 million.
Previously, the Chiefs had to forfeit a 2016 third-round pick and a 2017 sixth-round pick due to tampering with wide receiver Jeremy Maclin during the 2015 offseason. The team was fined $250,000, head coach Andy Reid was fined $75,000, and former general manager John Dorsey was fined $25,000.
There is almost no doubt Atlanta broke tampering rules before signing Cousins. We know this because the 35-year-old admits to having direct communication with Falcons members before league regulations allowed it. Even though it is typical for teams to sign free agents before the legal tampering window opens, there is a “don’t ask, don’t tell” ethos prevalent across the league.
Cousins has since attempted to downplay any potential infractions, but the Falcons will almost certainly face penalty.
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