Although the NFL calls its unofficial free agency the legal tampering period, the league is looking into whether two teams went too far during this year’s window. The Eagles and Falcons are under investigation, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano tweets.
The league is looking into potential violations from these teams during their respective Saquon Barkley and Kirk Cousins negotiations. Penn State coach James Franklin, who coached Barkley in college, said GM Howie Roseman spoke directly with the running back prior to the new league year. Teams are not permitted to speak directly with players during the tampering period unless they are self-represented; the Eagles have denied any violation occurred, ESPN.com’s Tim McManus notes.
Cousins said Wednesday night he spoke with the Falcons’ trainer during the tampering window, which is not permitted under league rules. While tampering ahead of the days that comprise the legal tampering period happens annually, as some deals come to pass rather quickly once the signing window opens. But the league is investigating these two high-profile team changes. Fines or potential loss of draft picks can come out of tampering violations.
“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 McManus) of Barkley’s Eagles talks.
As of Thursday morning, the Giants had not contacted the league about tampering, per McManus. By most accounts, the Giants were prepared to move on from the two-time Pro Bowler. While New York did add a veteran replacement in Devin Singletary, the ex-Brian Daboll Bills charge comes cheaper than Barkley, who signed a three-year, $37.75MM deal with $26MM guaranteed at signing. The Vikings did make a more concerted effort to retain Cousins, but the Falcons came in with a big offer — four years, $180MM with a $100MM practical guarantee — to lure him out of Minneapolis.
Rehabbing a torn Achilles sustained in late October, Cousins wants to be ready for the Falcons’ summer workouts. Falcons buzz began building coming out of the Combine, which often serves as a preview of the market. After battling uphill against Cousins during negotiations for years, the Vikings held tight against the kind of guarantee the Falcons are authorizing. As he prepares to move to his wife’s hometown, the 35-year-old passer will be working with the Falcons’ medical staff soon. The NFL will look into whether the Falcons’ staff violated tampering policies during this high-profile recruitment.
They should also investigate the Chargers. Harbaugh is known to do shady stuff like that.
Why who did they sign that would cause you to say that?
There’s literally nothing shady about that.
@tigers182 Harbaugh gave Gus Edwards 2 million dollars and a cheeseburger. Definitely tampering.
Chargers were like 28m or something over the cap. Cuts and restructuring were forefront. of which, the player has to agree to restructure, if not they can cut and then there is even more dead cap. so who the heck would they be signing? at the college level Harbaugh is certainly not the only one and that is no excuse or condoning. it’s just so dumb to post stuff like this and sets a bad precedent.
*sounds of wrists being slapped*
Take all their draft picks and give them to the Bears. It’s only fair.
That doesn’t sound very fair to those eventual draftees.
No one cares. It’s basically a victimless crime.
Honestly, who cares? These guys were going to sign there anyway
the NFL cares, rules are rules I guess
Unless your the chiefs, then you have whole crews of people making special rules for you every game
What do you mean unless you’re the chiefs? The NFL blatantly manipulated games to get the chiefs into the superbowl, and gift them a win. The NFL was desperate to have Taylor Swift on the field during the Super Bowl, and they absolutely made it happen. The Chiefs are entirely a product of the league. Sad.
As much as I’d like to use that excuse, my Niners simply blew it. Again. Plus the league didn’t rupture Dre’s Achilles tendon while he was running out to the field. Sh*t just happens sometimes
NFL rules have always been spottily enforced, both on the field and off, depending on the team and, when applicable, the player’s value
The Giants didn’t even give him an offer it’s hard to call it tampering if they already were moving on.
Nothing to see here, keep moving along, 12:01am is plenty of time to examine a players medicals especially 1 coming off major surgery and to greenlight a 100million dollar commitment to said player. Negotiations were incredibly smooth.
Do you even care?
That’s cap.
The tampering period is created to allow current teams sole access?
Then there is a time when they can be contacted from other teams.
Communication rules are strange in all sports.
It’s as if there are so many rules that go against common sense,way of life, future plans.
Similar to nda.
Let’s punish Howie for beating the salary cap every year, ripping off every other gm when trading and being the organization players want to play for…And want to come back to.
“Hello! My name is inspector Clouseau and Roger Goodell has asked me to head up this investigation”.
Reminds one of US Congress – investigate, talk, talk, talk and do nothing of consequence.
More like, pretend to investigate while they cover up democrat crimes.
Give the draft picks to the teams that lost the player. That would be a better penalty.
There should be more investigations than just these into illegal tampering.
Does not smell right that contracts can be negotiated just after the legal time period begins. The current fine is neither adequate or fair. A fine and loss of a draft choice does not directly compensate the team that was damaged by losing a player as a result of illegal tampering. The damaged team should be awarded the draft choice stripped from the offending team. THEN
The league can look into the pundits and the media whose leaks, forecasts, predictions can be laying the groundwork for and narrowing the field of potential suitors for negotiations between player’s agents and teams.
“Legal tampering period.” It sounds so backwards, why even have one. If tampering occurs, just tear the contract up (can no longer sign them) and ding the team their first round draft pick.
Franklin a crap coach , probably trying to get into the NFL with his comments .
If the NFL entertains this they really are in bad shape . Worry about Penn State moron
Why is James Franklin involved?
Sound bite of his indirectly revealed a potential tampering violation.
Yeah because Saquan growing up not far from Philly and going to college at State Penn would never know that many Eagles fans are also Nittany Lions fans.
I didn’t say that I was for or against anything, but that is how Franklin got mentioned. It was the “when” of when he said that Barkley got contacted that makes it relevant. Just answering the question. I’ll note that the article doesn’t include a date with Franklin’s quote, which seems relevant in determining why the quote could be evidentiary.
I’m very confused, how is anything in that James Franklin clip remotely close to being saying “Howie Roseman spoke with Saquon before the period was okay.” It just says that during the phone call it was mentioned, but says nothing about when that phone call was made.
It all depends… Did Saquan or Kirk report as eligible before signing?
Who comes up with these rules anyway