"Falcons Penalized for Tampering in Kirk Cousins Deal"

The Atlanta Falcons have found themselves in hot water with the NFL after violating anti-tampering rules during the signing of quarterback Kirk Cousins. On Thursday, the league announced that the Falcons would forfeit their fifth-round pick in the upcoming draft as a consequence of their actions.

(AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

The controversy began when the Falcons and Cousins quickly reached an agreement on a lucrative four-year, $180 million contract, including $100 million guaranteed, just as the NFL’s 52-hour legal tampering window commenced. Although swift deals are not uncommon during this period, the specifics of Cousins' contract and his comments during his introductory press conference prompted the NFL to take a closer look.

As a result of their findings, the NFL not only docked the Falcons a fifth-round draft pick but also imposed a fine of $250,000 on the team. Additionally, General Manager Terry Fontenot was personally fined $50,000 for his role in the violations.

(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Alongside Cousins, the Falcons also secured deals with wide receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Charlie Woerner during the same period. Mooney agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract a day after Cousins’ signing, while Woerner signed a three-year, $12 million deal shortly after the initial tampering window opened on March 11.

The NFL’s investigation into these transactions concluded that the Falcons had engaged in impermissible discussions with Cousins prior to the official start of the free agency period. This breach of protocol is what led to the significant penalties imposed on the team.

While tampering during the legal negotiation window is a grey area often scrutinized, it rarely results in penalties unless clear evidence of early negotiations is found. In this case, Cousins' comments suggested that discussions with the Falcons might have occurred before the permissible time frame.

Interestingly, the Philadelphia Eagles were also under investigation for similar infractions concerning running back Saquon Barkley. However, the NFL concluded there was insufficient evidence to penalize the Eagles, highlighting the complexities and nuances of tampering rules enforcement.

The Falcons now face the challenge of moving forward without a fifth-round pick in the next draft, a setback that could impact their future roster-building strategies. As the team reflects on this costly mistake, it underscores the importance of adhering strictly to league policies to avoid such repercussions.