Key Takeaways:
– Kirk Cousins openly discussed the Falcons’ premature engagement with him, hinting at tampering.
– The Falcons had detailed medical information and negotiated a $100 million contract with Cousins before the official negotiating period, raising suspicions of prior knowledge.
– There’s speculation that the Falcons had unauthorized communications with Cousins and his agent before the allowed time.
– Cousins inadvertently confirmed direct communication with the Falcons’ staff outside the permitted timeframe during his press conference.
– Such actions, while not uncommon, are against league rules and could prompt official action if too blatant.
In a surprising turn of events, Kirk Cousins recently shed light on what appears to be a clear case of tampering by the Falcons. The first principle of avoiding tampering charges is to never openly discuss them. However, Cousins did just that during a Wednesday night revelation.
The signs were already pointing towards the Falcons having insider information. They were expected to wait until Monday at noon ET to receive medical details about Cousins’s Achilles tendon surgery. Astonishingly, within an hour and a half, they had finalized a deal guaranteeing him $100 million. This swift action strongly implies they had access to information ahead of the official timeline.
It’s also believed that the Falcons had discussions or negotiations with Cousins’s agent, Mike McCartney, before the start of the official negotiating period. While this practice is not uncommon in the industry, discretion is usually maintained. The Falcons, however, seemed to have been more cavalier in their approach. Questions arise whether tight end Kyle Pitts started recruiting Cousins independently or with the team’s knowledge, suggesting direct communication with Cousins within the 52-hour negotiation window, a clear violation of the rules. A similar situation occurred eight years ago when the Chiefs were penalized for direct negotiations with Jeremy Maclin during the legal tampering period.
Cousins, during his introductory press conference, unintentionally confirmed these suspicions. He mentioned speaking to the team’s head athletic trainer on Tuesday, hinting at a possible in-person meeting. “There are great people here,” Cousins remarked, praising not only the football team but also the support staff, including the head athletic trainer and the head of P.R., underscoring the positive environment he’s joining.
Such direct interactions, however, are strictly prohibited by league rules. Although it’s a common occurrence, it seldom becomes as evident as in this case. This incident could potentially prompt the league to take action, despite its usual tendency to overlook tampering incidents, especially when they are blatantly obvious.