Apparently, the NFL is quickly wrapping up its tampering investigations of the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.
On Sunday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported a resolution in the alleged cases is likely to come this week.
The league is investigating whether the Falcons and Eagles contacted quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Saquon Barkley before the legal tampering period. At the beginning of free agency, Cousins signed a four-year, $180M deal with Atlanta, while Barkley signed a three-year, $37.5M contract with Philadelphia.
Schefter noted a league source signaled, “the Falcons’ alleged transgressions are considered more significant, and the discipline is expected to be more severe for Atlanta.”
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Cousins admitted to four potential violations during his introductory news conference with the Falcons. The 35-year-old QB recently tried to downplay the allegations.
“The league’s still kind of going through that,” Cousins told reporters. “So, I’ll let them do it. But there’s not a whole lot there.”
Barkley’s former coach at Penn State, James Franklin, suggested Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman courted the 27-year-old RB before free agency started. Per ESPN’s Tim McManus, the Eagles denied this claim.
Typically, the league hands out harsh punishments for tampering violations.
The Miami Dolphins forfeited their 2023 first-round pick and 2024 third-round pick for tampering with QB Tom Brady and head coach Sean Payton three times from 2019 to 2022. The Kansas City Chiefs also gave up a 2016 third-rounder and 2017 sixth-rounder for tampering with wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in 2015.
