Allegations of tampering by the Falcons regarding the signings of Darnell Mooney and Kirk Cousins are serious and could result in penalties if proven true. Tampering investigations in the NFL are conducted by the league’s Management Council, and if evidence of tampering is found, the team involved could face fines, loss of draft picks, or other sanctions. It’s important to note that these are currently just allegations, and the NFL will conduct a thorough investigation before making any determinations.
The NFL is investigating potential tampering by the Eagles and Falcons in the days leading up to the official start of free agency. The situations involving the two teams are viewed as vastly different, both on the surface and possibly beneath it.
The Eagles came under scrutiny for tampering after Penn State coach James Franklin mentioned the Eagles’ recruiting pitch to former Giants running back Saquon Barkley, suggesting Barkley had direct communication with Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman during the 52-hour negotiating period. However, Barkley later stated during his introductory press conference that he did not hear directly from Roseman during the negotiating window. The NFL may investigate further by checking phone records to determine if direct contact occurred between Roseman and Barkley.
On the other hand, the Falcons are accused of engaging in blatant tampering with former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. Cousins himself admitted during his introductory press conference that he spoke with the team’s head athletic trainer and Falcons director of player personnel Ryan Pace. While the timing of this conversation aligns with the start of the new league year, which marks the point when discussions between teams and players can commence, Cousins’ slip of the tongue regarding a potential meeting with the Falcons’ head athletic trainer raised further suspicions. If such a meeting did occur before the official start of free agency, it could result in severe penalties for the Falcons, possibly including the loss of a first-round draft pick.
Furthermore, Cousins revealed that he offered to call former Bears receiver Darnell Mooney to help recruit him to the Falcons, suggesting that the team had already crossed the line with Cousins to the extent that he was acting as an extension of the team. This indicates a separate violation of tampering rules.
The apparent lack of caution in generating evidence of tampering, as evidenced by Cousins’ disclosures, may lead the NFL to uncover additional digital evidence, such as emails and texts, showing direct contact between the Falcons and Cousins during the negotiating window. If the league finds such evidence, it could result in significant penalties for the Falcons.
In summary, this situation represents a blatant case of pre-free-agency tampering, demonstrating a disregard for subtlety or discretion. If the NFL does not thoroughly investigate and address these allegations, it would call into question the effectiveness of the league’s tampering rules.
