Due to alleged tampering violations, a couple of NFC contenders find themselves in the crosshairs of Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL.
The more serious offender of the two teams in question is the Atlanta Falcons.
As it turns out, the Falcons may have not been so squeaky clean when it came to their pursuit of quarterback Kirk Cousins.
The accusations stem from claims that the Falcons engaged in prohibited communications with Cousins before he officially signed his lucrative four-year deal with the team in March.
This alleged tampering has put the Falcons in jeopardy of facing severe penalties from the league.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Atlanta might face even harsher sanctions than the Philadelphia Eagles, who were embroiled in a similar controversy surrounding their signing of running back Saquon Barkley.
Schefter indicated that the NFL’s investigation is nearing its conclusion and that a verdict could be delivered in the coming days.
“The NFL’s investigation into alleged tampering charges against the Falcons for their involvement with then-free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Eagles for their involvement with then-free-agent running back Saquon Barkley is ongoing and could reach a conclusion as early as this week, per sources,” Schefter reported.
The report stated that the punishment for both teams will likely involve the forfeiture of draft picks. Although, Atlanta is expected to be dealt a much harsher blow than Philadelphia.
There are rumors that the Falcons may even be forced to swap picks with Cousins’ old team, the Minnesota Vikings.
Fair or unfair, that would be a relatively unique outcome.
The potential repercussions of such infractions are underscored by past instances where teams found guilty of tampering have faced significant penalties.
The Miami Dolphins, for instance, incurred the loss of a first-round pick in 2023 and a third-round pick in 2024, in addition to substantial fines for key executives, after being found guilty of tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
Similarly, the Kansas City Chiefs were docked draft picks and fined after tampering with wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, setting a precedent for the severity of punishments in such cases.
Adding to the intrigue of the situation is Kirk Cousins himself, who inadvertently revealed during his introductory press conference with the Falcons that he had engaged in communication with tight end Kyle Pitts and a team trainer before the official start of the league’s new year, constituting a violation of NFL rules.
In other words, it seems that Cousins mistakenly ratted his own (new) team out.
The NFL likely doesn’t have nearly as damaging of information when it comes to the Eagles recruitment of Barkley.
While it’s likely that they violated rules, it’s the Falcons who are expected to be “made an example of” rather than the Eagles.
Goodell and the league will most likely make a decision within the next 48 hours.
What are your thoughts on the tampering situation?
It’s likely something that happens much more than the league wants to realize … It’s one of those things where you only get caught when you’re truly reckless about it.
If Cousins didn’t volunteer the information he did, nothing would happen … Meanwhile, if Barkley’s old college coach didn’t drop the nugget he did, nothing would happen to Philly either.
What are your thoughts on the situation?
What do you predict will be the punishment for both the Falcons and Eagles?
Should the NFL use this opportunity to really drop the hammer as a way of preventing future infractions???