NFL: Miami Dolphins Guilty Of Tampering With Tom Brady, Not So Guilty On Tanking
Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at 08:30PM By Barry Janoff
August 2, 2022: Stating that "investigators found tampering violations of unprecedented scope and severity," the NFL said commissioner Roger Goodell today notified the Miami Dolphins of the discipline imposed for violations of NFL policies relating to the integrity of the game following a six-month investigation covering events from 2019-2022.
Among the findings: "The Dolphins had impermissible communications with quarterback Tom Brady in 2019-20, while he was under contract to the New England Patriots and again had impermissible communications with both Mr. Brady and his agent during and after the 2021 season, while he was under contract to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."
In addition, in January 2022, the Dolphins had "impermissible communications with Don Yee, the agent for New Orleans Saints' head coach Sean Payton, about having Mr. Payton serve as Miami's head coach.
"Miami did not seek consent from New Orleans to have these discussions, which occurred before Coach Payton announced his decision to retire as head coach of the Saints," according to the NFL.
"The investigators found tampering violations of unprecedented scope and severity," Goodell said via the league.
"I know of no prior instance of a team violating the prohibition on tampering with both a head coach and star player, to the potential detriment of multiple other clubs, over a period of several years. Similarly, I know of no prior instance in which ownership was so directly involved in the violations."
The investigation also “conclusively established that the Dolphins did not intentionally lose games during the 2019 season. Nor did anyone at the club, including Mr. Ross, instruct (then head) coach (Brian) Flores to do so.
“(However), on a number of occasions during the 2019 season, Mr. Ross expressed his belief that the Dolphins' position in the upcoming 2020 draft should take priority over the team's win-loss record.
Based on the findings and conclusions, the NFL said the following disciplines would be imposed:
• The Dolphins will forfeit the club's first-round selection in the 2023 NFL draft and third-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
• Mr. Ross is suspended through October 17, 2022. During this period, he may not be present at the Dolphins' facility and may not represent the club at any team or NFL event. He may not attend any league meeting prior to the Annual Meeting in 2023, is removed from all league committees indefinitely, and fined $1.5 million.
• Mr. Bruce Beal, Dolphins' vice chairman/limited partner, may not attend any league meeting for the remainder of the 2022 season and is fined $500,000.
“The comments made by Mr. Ross did not affect coach Flores' commitment to win and the Dolphins competed to win every game.” Goodell said via the league.
"There is nothing more important when it comes to the game of football itself than the integrity of the game."
“Coach Flores is to be commended for not allowing any comment about the relative importance of draft position to affect his commitment to win throughout the season."
Flores, now a senior defensive assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers, said in a statement, "I am thankful that the NFL's investigator found my factual allegations against Stephen Ross are true. At the same time, I am disappointed to learn that the investigator minimized Mr. Ross's offers and pressure to tank games . . .
“Mr. Ross will avoid any meaningful consequence. There is nothing more important when it comes to the game of football itself than the integrity of the game. When the integrity of the game is called into question, fans suffer, and football suffers."
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