The Matthew Stafford saga is growing more complicated by the hour, with multiple (and conflicting) reports of Tom Brady meeting with Stafford on a recent ski trip in Montana.
It was originally reported that Brady had reached out to Stafford about joining the Raiders, but subsequent reporting has provided more clarity on the situation.
Brady hosted Stafford in Montana as part of his ongoing efforts to recruit the veteran quarterback to Las Vegas, who are expected to be “the most aggressive suitor,” per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. That report was disputed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who said that Brady and Stafford “ran into each other” in an unplanned meeting. Schultz followed up on his original report, adding that “Brady has been leading the charge to get him to the Raiders if the Rams decide to trade him.”
Since Stafford has been given permission to speak with other teams, it’s unlikely that Brady’s actions would run afoul of the NFL’s anti-tampering rules. If Brady’s contact came before the Rams granted that permission, though, the Raiders could face an investigation and potential discipline for the infraction. The Falcons forfeited a fifth-round pick and paid a $250K fine for tampering with multiple free agents last year. Chief among them was another veteran quarterback: Kirk Cousins.
Stafford’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, has also been meeting with interested teams at the Combine this week, including the Giants, according to Schultz and The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. The Giants have been repeatedly linked to Stafford, even dating back to the 2024 trade deadline. While they may not be willing to deal the No. 3 overall pick to acquire the veteran quarterback, general manager Joe Schoen has made it clear that finding a new quarterback is his priority this offseason.
The Stafford situation remains fluid. Sean McVay expressed his desire to retain his Super Bowl-winning quarterback, but other teams are clearly circling. After assessing his market, Stafford will likely give the Rams a chance to meet his financial demands. If they refuse, he seems poised to force his way out of Los Angeles, with Las Vegas and New York leading the list of potential destinations.
So, tampering?
Rams told Stafford’s agent to work on a trade and bring it back to them.
link to profootballrumors.com
I’m aware of the reports, but given the inconsistent reporting, I’ve got questions about the actual timing.
It’s a moot point.
Unless Rams file a complaint or make a stink about it NFL won’t do anything
Only reports that matter in this instance are Rams are actively trying to move on from Stafford. So doubt they’ll complain even if it was tampering.
Minnesota and Chicago were letting Cousins and Mooney walk, but Atlanta still got punished. It might not be LA, but I guarantee the league will get an earful from teams if it looks like Brady has a license to tamper, given that he already has conflict of interest concerns.
Cousins and Mooney didn’t have permission like Stafford does to speak to teams while still under contract with Minnesota
If Minnesota gave Cousins permission to speak to Atlanta prior to the legal tampering period, and Chicago to Mooney, doubt the NFL does anything about it.
“Well you talked prior to being granted permission but were granted permission anyways so let’s still punish you even though you have a right to do so now”
Kind of like entering a country illegally and then being given amnesty after the fact. Sure you broke the law initially but it’s moot cause you’re granted citizenship anyways and nobody is gonna do anything about you initially breaking the law.
Well that’s a bizarre non sequitur that doesn’t address my actual point.
It’s called an analogy and perfectly fits the scenario. I’m sorry if analogies offend you. Your actual point also ignores the difference that Stafford is granted permission to speak to other teams while cousins and Mooney were not.
You aren’t allowed to do something
You’re granted permission to do the something you weren’t allowed to do
What you did prior is a moot point cause you’re given permission to do it.
If that ski trip happened before he had permission, it wasn’t allowed. And the analogy is weird and ill fitting. If you want someone to like it ask your other account.
Yeah my “other accounts” are giving me likes about things I say.
Something something bizarre non sequitur
Anyways. He has permission so it’ll be a moot point to the NFL.
Your “where’s the 2nd JFK shooter” conspiracy theories are fun and all, but end of the day doubt the NFL cares cause Rams are actively trying to move Stafford.
Any other instances of tampering regarding players teams tried to actively move and gave permission to guys seeking trades?
lol right on cue
Any other instances of tampering regarding players teams tried to actively move and gave permission to guys seeking trades?
Who cares…this is the league that has a “Legal Tampering” period which is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of
I suppose Goodell could make it even more stupid by following the injury report statuses: probable tampering, questionable tampering, doubtful tampering, game time decision tampering 🙂
If’s maybe’s but’s could be’s….conspriacy theories everywhere!
Who cares? Lol
Brady and Stafford went skiing. They had fun.
End of story.
Per an NFL spokesperson:
“The Raiders have of course already been in contact with Stafford himself speaking with minority owner Tom Brady. The details on the encounter have been disputed, but concerns about tampering can be put to rest. A league spokesperson informed Outkick’s Armando Salguero the NFL is satisfied tampering did not occur when Brady and Stafford met. Especially since the Rams have allowed conversations to take place regarding a trade deal as well as a contract from a (hypothetical) acquiring team, similar discussions can be expected over the coming days.”
Huh, guess the NFL really did say “well, since Rams approved Stafford to talk to NFL teams doesnt matter if tampering did or did not happen prior since they granted permission anyways. Move along”
Lmao. No. Not tampering. As people have kindly informed you Stafford has permission to speak to other teams.
Yea. Tampering if they didn’t ok it. Huge no no unless you get a yes yes. The rams are so shady for how they did my boy Goff. But you can’t argue the immediate result of superbowl. lol. Can’t wait to see what patch job they come up with next. ThisGM might be personell goat
So now that an NFL spokes person came out and said
“The Raiders have of course already been in contact with Stafford himself speaking with minority owner Tom Brady. The details on the encounter have been disputed, but concerns about tampering can be put to rest. A league spokesperson informed Outkick’s Armando Salguero the NFL is satisfied tampering did not occur when Brady and Stafford met. Especially since the Rams have allowed conversations to take place regarding a trade deal as well as a contract from a (hypothetical) acquiring team, similar discussions can be expected over the coming days.”
We still going with tampering?
No one in the thread said it was tamp. Just the initial post asking.
Literally you: Yea. Tampering if they didn’t ok it.
The spokesperson reports saying “Especially since the Rams have allowed conversations to take place regarding a trade deal as well as a contract from a (hypothetical) acquiring team” implies the Rams didnt ok it at the time but it doesnt matter cause they ultimately okd stafford to seek a trade and speak to other teams.
As in the NFL stopped caring when rams granted stafford permission. Anything prior became a moot point.
As if we didn’t need proof that Brady should be bounced from the Fox NFL booth …
Don’t hold your breath. I doubt the NFL cares.
Yeah guys who know about football shouldn’t talk about it on TV. Even the beloved Romo wasn’t that great year one.
If Mark Cuban called NBA games prior to or after selling the majority share of the Mavs nobody blinks an eye.
But Romo never owned a team which makes that comparison void and Brady is currently a part owner which makes your Cuban comparison void. Try harder.
romo still isnt good.
Romo is good, and has real enthusiasm for the game which he can articulate. Romo isn’t perfect, but he’s a damn spot better than anyone else providing colour commentary. And it pains me to say this, as Romo is an ex-Cowboys QB and historically my favourite team has been the Redskins.
May the heavens save us all from another game with Chris Collinsworth as the colour commentator. It’s often enough to make me turn off the broadcast.
Romo is one of the few tolerable broadcasters. He doesn’t cobstantly gloss over players making a play, and talk about how great they are. Romo will call out bad plays when others won’t. Collinsworth is insufferable with his bllshit.
Hope he’s a better ghost GM than he is an announcer.
Does not look like it.
Spending Huge amounts of Cap Space (That Flows forward to future years) and Draft Capital on a QB close to retirement for a team that was competing for the worst record in the league does seem like the best way at team building.
Oh it may get them a few more Wins next year, but will make it more difficult in building the team as a whole for long-term success. One would think someone who took below market value salary to help his team win would understand this….
Two thirds don’t outbid yourself
So do we know what percentage of Stafford’s salary Brady will be pocketing as a kickback?
Tamper Brady lol jk
Brady just want’s to add on to his titles. He already has “deflategate” so why not “tampergate”?
If Raiders wind up acquiring Stafford that’s gotta mean the they pass on QB at 6 right? Man how awkward would that be to have a Cousins / Penix Jr situation where Raiders bring in Stafford and draft Shedeur Sanders or something.
More like draft Tet at 6 to pair with Stafford and Bowers.
If LV got Stafford, it’d certainly shake up some already vastly different mocks. I’ve seen a handful where Hunter falls to #6, which I’d absolutely do if he’s there. That feels a bit farfetched, to me. At any rate, I don’t know that Jeanty wouldn’t be the best pick for a Stafford quarterbacked LV team though, assuming Hunter doesn’t fall.
AOC will look great with Bowers, Hunter and Meyers. Get a good RB and let’s go offense.
Not really….Stafford Retirement Rumors have been circulating for a while now. So while he will play next year, he will not be a long-term solution but a stop gap. They will still need a long-term solution and Sanders may need time before he is fully ready. With an entire roster that is far from ready to be competitive, I can’t even begin to grasp on why someone like Stafford makes sense. He may bring a few more Wins than other Vets that could be available at little cost, but will come at costs that prevent rebuilding a team that has been bad for years and will be gone after a year or two.
This story sounds awfully familiar.lol
That report was disputed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who said that Brady and Stafford “ran into each other” in an unplanned meeting.
——-
Wow, that’s one hell of a coincidence.
Crazy that they happened to book the same conference room at the same lodge at the same time.
Do you know if anybody has ever introduced Tom Brady to his son? He seems to spend more time romance men to come to a team that he only owns 5% of
Is it 5%? I thought I had read it was less than that. Just like when Jay-Z “owned” the NJ Nets. Turned out to be less than 1%.
There is nothing to see here, but I now believe that Stafford and Brady met, and either they didn’t know or likely didn’t care about league rules and the Rams as a courtesy to Stafford AND to Brady. (Yes, I do think he Brady has that type of cache with the Rams) put out the story about allowing Stafford to talk to other teams. It was strange when it happened, but this explains
It is to me, at least.
Okay so it’s only tampering when the Dolphins do it.
Brady attended a meeting on the Dolphins’ owner’s yacht.
Dolphins forfeit draft picks.
Brady…. No punishment.
Dolphins talk to a retired coach SeanPayton.
Dolphins forfeit picks.
Payton…. No punishment.
Brady tries to woo Matt Stafford to Vegas.
No punishment.
FTG
Did Brady have permission while under contract? No
Did Payton have permission while under contract? No
Does Stafford have permission while under contract? Yes
Wonder what the difference is.
If the NFL does an investigation they’ll ask the rams something like was Stafford allowed to speak to other teams at this time? And what are the rams gonna say? Probably course he was he had permission cause that’s the outcome they’re looking for, Stafford to leave and find a suitable trade deal.
You’re gonna be hard pressed to prove tampering when the rams publicly okd him to speak to other teams. You’re gonna have to show he wasn’t given permission at the time which all an employee has to say was yeah he had our permission the entire time and there goes any tampering issues.
TB is not calling the shots for the Raiders organization. He’s nothing more than a figure head
Stafford will not put any of the teams linked to him over the top.
So, why bother?
Wasted money and assets to tread water at best.
If the rams recover and make the play offs in the next 3 years. We might be witnessing the best coaching staff the nfl has ever seen. Hiest after hiest. What will they do next. Last random ass move got them a title. Can’t wait to watch who qb1 is. lol