The Atlanta Falcons on Thursday have been docked a fifth-round decide 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 operating again Saquon Barkley this offseason.
The tampering violations for the Falcons have 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 crew penalties, the NFL fined Falcons common supervisor Terry Fontenot $50,000.
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After Cousins was signed to a four-year deal value 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 — except 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 have interaction with and negotiate all facets 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 stated in an announcement. “This contains dialogue of journey preparations or different logistical issues, which the membership acknowledges befell 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 & Info
Mooney signed a three-year, $39 million take care of Atlanta, and Woerner acquired a three-year, $12 million contract.
“We’re happy this assessment is full,” the Falcons stated in an announcement. “We cooperated absolutely with the league and its assessment, and respect the NFL’s thoroughness. As we do with each course of, we’ll assessment how we function and search for methods to enhance.”
The NFL didn’t uncover ample proof to assist 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, urged common supervisor Howie Roseman spoke to Barkley immediately through the “authorized tampering” interval to promote him on enjoying for Philadelphia, which has a big Nittany Lions fan base.
The Eagles on the time denied having impermissible contact with Barkley, saying all recruiting carried out by the crew is facilitated via the agent. Barkley stated Franklin “misinterpreted” how the Eagles went about recruiting him.
“In coming to this conclusion, the league reviewed cellphone logs, textual content messages and different paperwork associated to Philadelphia’s free company and determination to signal Barkley,” the league stated 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 assessment, ought to new proof be uncovered, the league could reopen the investigation.”