The NFL is investigating the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles for possible tampering in their signings of Kirk Cousins and Saquon Barkley. The Falcons’ owner, Arthur Blank, and Eagles’ officials have denied any violations occurred, but the league’s scrutiny follows public comments suggesting potential breaches of the no-contact rules before free agency officially opened.
The investigation into the Eagles is based on remarks by Penn State coach James Franklin, who mentioned a phone call between Barkley and Eagles’ GM Howie Roseman before Barkley’s contract with the New York Giants expired. Barkley and the Eagles have denied this, attributing the confusion to a misinterpretation.
For the Falcons, Cousins admitted during his introductory press conference that he spoke with the team’s athletic trainer before signing, which is a direct violation of the tampering rules. This admission has put the Falcons at greater risk of disciplinary action.
The NFL is expected to announce its findings soon, with possible penalties including fines and loss of draft picks, similar to previous tampering cases involving the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs.