On Thursday, the Atlanta Falcons were punished by the NFL for breaking anti-tampering rules in their pursuit of quarterback Kirk Cousins. The team was fined $250,000 and lost a fifth-round pick in next year’s draft. The punishment came after it was revealed that Cousins had agreed to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed shortly after the legal tampering window opened.
Cousins had raised red flags during his introductory news conference when he mentioned speaking to the Falcons’ medical staff before they were allowed to have contact with him. Despite his history of injuries, including a torn right Achilles tendon that ended his 2023 season after eight games, Cousins expressed excitement about joining the Falcons and praised the people within the organization.
The NFL prohibits direct communication between teams and players during the legal tampering period, except through their agents. However, it appears that the Falcons violated these rules in their pursuit of Cousins. The league took action against the team to emphasize the importance of maintaining fairness and integrity in player recruitment processes.