The Atlanta Falcons on Thursday had been docked a fifth-round choose within the 2025 draft and fined $250,000 for violating the NFL’s anti-tampering coverage associated to free agent signings, whereas the league cleared the Philadelphia Eagles of tampering whereas signing working again Saquon Barkley this offseason.
The tampering violations for the Falcons had been a results of “improper contact” with three gamers previous to their official unrestricted free company interval: quarterback Kirk Cousins, vast receiver Darnell Mooney and tight finish Charlie Woerner.
Along with the group penalties, the NFL fined Falcons basic supervisor Terry Fontenot $50,000.
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After Cousins was signed to a four-year deal price as much as $180 million on the primary official day of free company, he indicated throughout his introductory information convention that he spoke with the Falcons’ head coach earlier than 4 p.m. ET on March 13, when the brand new league yr started.
Groups are allowed to talk solely with brokers through the 52-hour free agent negotiating window after the beginning of the brand new league yr and can’t converse immediately with gamers — until the participant represents himself and would not have an agent. Cousins is represented by Mike McCartney, who had introduced on social media two days previous to the beginning of the brand new league yr that the quarterback had agreed to phrases with the Falcons.
“Whereas the coverage permits golf equipment to interact with and negotiate all points of an NFL participant contract with the licensed agent of any potential unrestricted free agent through the two-day negotiating interval, any direct contact between the participant and an worker or consultant of the membership is prohibited,” the NFL mentioned in an announcement. “This contains dialogue of journey preparations or different logistical issues, which the membership acknowledges happened with regard to those three gamers.”
Notable NFL tampering penalties
TeamTampered withPicks lostFalcons (’24)Kirk Cousins,Darnell Mooney, Charlie Woerner’25 fifth rd.Dolphins (’23)Tom Brady, Sean Payton’23 1st rd., ’24 third rd.Chiefs (’16)Jeremy Maclin’16 third rd., ’17 4th rd.Lions (’11)Chiefs gamers’11 seventh rd.49ers (’08)Lance Briggs’08 fifth rd.– ESPN Stats & Data
Mooney signed a three-year, $39 million cope with Atlanta, and Woerner received a three-year, $12 million contract.
“We’re happy this overview is full,” the Falcons mentioned in an announcement. “We cooperated absolutely with the league and its overview, and admire the NFL’s thoroughness. As we do with each course of, we’ll overview how we function and search for methods to enhance.”
The NFL didn’t uncover adequate proof to help a discovering that the anti-tampering coverage was violated by the Eagles within the lead-up to signing Barkley.
Shortly after Barkley agreed to phrases with the Eagles on a three-year, $37.75 million contract in March, his former coach at Penn State, James Franklin, recommended basic supervisor Howie Roseman spoke to Barkley immediately through the “authorized tampering” interval to promote him on taking part in for Philadelphia, which has a big Nittany Lions fan base.
The Eagles on the time denied having impermissible contact with Barkley, saying all recruiting executed by the group is facilitated by means of the agent. Barkley mentioned Franklin “misinterpreted” how the Eagles went about recruiting him.
“In coming to this conclusion, the league reviewed telephone logs, textual content messages and different paperwork associated to Philadelphia’s free company and choice to signal Barkley,” the league mentioned in an announcement. “The NFL additionally interviewed a number of members of the group, together with Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni, in addition to Barkley and Penn State head coach James Franklin. As with each overview, ought to new proof be uncovered, the league might reopen the investigation.”
