Key takeaways:
– The Atlanta Falcons were accused of ‘blatantly tampering’ to acquire Kirk Cousins from the Minnesota Vikings, as discussed in the ‘What The Football’ podcast.
– Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk highlighted the Falcons’ pursuit of Cousins as a blatant example of tampering.
– Florio also accused the Falcons of leveraging their new relationship with Cousins to recruit wide receiver Darnell Mooney from the Bears.
– The quarterback confirmed the tampering during his introductory press conference with the Falcons.
– The NFL opened a tampering investigation on the Falcons on March 14.
Atlanta Falcons were put in the spotlight by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk when he addressed the topic of ‘tampering’ in the NFL in the ‘What The Football’ podcast aired on March 20. Florio pointed out the Falcons’ pursuit of Kirk Cousins, former quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings, terming it as the most “blatant case of tampering” he has ever witnessed.
Florio’s Accusations against the Falcons
Apart from highlighting the Falcons’ audacious pursuit of Cousins, Florio also accused the team of ‘tampering within tampering.’ He claims the team used its relationship with Cousins to rope in former Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney to Atlanta. The Falcons stand to pay Cousins a hefty $180 million over a four-year deal, with $100 million fully guaranteed.
“Given that someone encouraged Cousins to recruit Darnell Mooney from the Bears, it resembles double tampering. You have multiple levels of tampering in this case,” Florio elaborated during the podcast. “What makes it standout is the blatant display of tampering without showing any care.”
Cousin’s Admission to the Tampering Allegations
The situation took a different turn when Cousins confirmed the allegations during his introductory press conference with the Falcons on March 13. The quarterback inadvertently mentioned his conversations with members of the Falcons organization and pointed out the team’s tight end, Kyle Pitts, as a recruiting agent, all before the official tampering period opened on March 11.
The NFL’s Reaction to the Tampering Claims
In light of the allegations and Cousins’ admittance, the NFL swiftly opened a tampering investigation into the Falcons on March 14. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network revealed on the same day that the league was scrutinizing some organizations for illegal contact with free agents they ended up signing.
“The NFL is investigating potential tampering by the Eagles and Falcons before the start of free agency,” Pelissero reported, according to Sports Illustrated. The penalties could include fines or draft penalties or both.
However, the potential punishment, while significant, might not outweigh the strategic gain of acquiring Cousins for the Falcons. His presence solidifies the Falcons as strong contenders in the NFC South Division and future playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Vikings have signed up quarterback Sam Darnold on a one-year deal while also exploring the option of trading up from No. 11 in the forthcoming draft to procure a top-notch quarterback.