According to the reports, NFL is investigating a couple of teams for potential tampering violations.
NFL is looking into the matter
ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported on Thursday that the NFL is looking into the matter and decided whether the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons violated tampering rules with their respective pursuits of Saquon Barkley and Kirk Cousins.
Barkley had agreed to a 3-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles after the legal tampering window of free agency opened on Monday. It has been noted that the legal tampering period for NFL free agents began on Monday at 12 p.m. EST and lasted until the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. EST Wednesday.
During a specific period, only certified representatives are allowed to negotiate with teams on behalf of players. The players themselves are not allowed to speak directly with team representatives until the start of the new league year.
On Tuesday, James Franklin, the coach who trained Barkley in college, revealed in an interview that Barkley had already spoken with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. This communication would have violated the league’s rules.
“For him now to come back and be able to play within the state, in Philadelphia, he said that was one of the first things that Howie said to him on the phone as part of his sales pitch to him was not only the Philadelphia Eagles and that but obviously the connection with Penn State and the fan base as well,” Franklin said, via ESPN’s Tim McManus.
An Eagles spokesperson stated that any recruiting which was done ahead of Wednesday would have been through an agent and it is allowed.
The tampering investigation involving Cousins is based on statements he made during his introduction as the Falcons’ new quarterback. The Kansas City Chiefs received disciplinary action a few years ago for communicating directly with Jeremy Maclin during the legal tampering period, losing a third-round draft pick. This sets a precedent for the potential consequences of tampering.
