NFL investigating Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles for tampering in regards to Kirk Cousins, Saquon Barkley
The NFL is investigating whether the Eagles and Falcons improperly tampered when the teams signed Saquon Barkley and Kirk Cousins.
This is according to ESPN reporter Dan Graziano. Barkley, the running back, left the Giants for the Eagles. And Cousins, a quarterback, was formerly with the Vikings.
The new league year started Wednesday. Free agent signings became official then. However, the NFL does allow teams to talk to the reps of pending free agents for two days, Monday and Tuesday. Those days are referred to as the legal tampering period.
Pro Football Talk noted on Wednesday that the Falcons might have inadvertently had an issue with Cousins. The new Falcons quarterback told the media, Wednesday, that he had met with the head Atlanta athletic trainer earlier than the NFL allowed.
The allegations involving the Eagles and Barkley deal with Penn State coach James Franklin. The coach possibly provided details of a conversation Eagles GM Howie Roseman had with Barkley, the former Penn State star. According to Franklin, Roseman sold Barkley on the Eagles as a chance to return home to Philadelphia.
Both players signed their deals, Wednesday. Cousins received a hefty $180 million deal with the Falcons. Meanwhile, Barkley got a $38 million deal with the Eagles.
The NFL does monitor when teams contact free agents. Remember that the league hit the Dolphins hard for improperly contacting Tom Brady.
Meanwhile, Dianna Russini of The Athletic said such an investigation is standard for the NFL.