Tag: tampering

Nov 23, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Jim Mora reacts to a call in the third quarter game against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

UConn’s Jim Mora accuses coaches of tampering

Posted on | by Field Level Media

UConn football coach Jim Mora accused his counterparts at other programs of tampering with his players in a strongly worded social media post on Monday.

“A simple note to the schools and coaches that have blatantly broken @NCAAFootball rules by tampering with our players in the last 24 hours,” Mora, 63, wrote on X. “We do know who you are, we will pursue all avenues to hold you accountable. We are excited that we’ve built a program where coaches have to cheat to beat us and we will protect that program. Think hard before you tamper with our players. #justgettingstarted”

Mora’s Huskies beat North Carolina 27-14 in the Fenway Bowl on Saturday. Because of their postseason participation, his players have until Thursday to enter the transfer portal. His statement implies fellow coaches aren’t waiting for players to do so.

He doubled down in a reply to a comment to his post on X.

“Not sure how we fix it, I do know we don’t ignore it. We will expose any program and coach that violates @NCAAFootball @NCAA rules by Tampering with our players,” he wrote. “It makes players anxious, it puts a dent in the lessons parents have taught them about honesty and integrity. I’m 100% for the Portal and NIL/Rev Share. I’m 100% against grown men cheating the rules and teaching players horrible Life lessons.”

UConn football has been at a disadvantage compared to larger schools when it comes to availability of funds to pay players for their name, image and likeness rights. In November 2023, Mora made his frustration known about UConn’s lacking NIL money.

UConn finished the season at 9-4, winning nine game for just the third time in program history and losing only to power-conference programs. Mora, UConn’s coach for three seasons, received a contract extension through Dec. 31, 2028, that will pay him a total of $10 million plus incentives.

–Field Level Media

Apr 21, 2024; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins throws out the first pitch prior to the game between the Atlanta Braves against the Texas Rangers at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

NFL tampering probe won’t affect 2024 draft picks for Eagles, Falcons

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NFL’s investigation into potential tampering by the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles is ongoing and will not be completed this week, the league said Tuesday.

With the 2024 NFL Draft scheduled to begin Thursday, the league will not be docking either team draft picks — should it find one or both guilty of tampering — this year.

The league confirmed in March that it was looking into the possibility of tampering by the teams prior to the start of free agency. The reviews focus on quarterback Kirk Cousins agreeing to a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons, and running back Saquon Barkley signing a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Eagles.

The Falcons said in a statement at the time that “due to the NFL’s review, we are unable to provide information or have additional comment.”

The Eagles denied the claims.

–Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) warms up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons owner denies tampering in acquisition of Kirk Cousins

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank does not believe his team is guilty of tampering with then-free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins before officially signing him earlier this month.

Blank said the Falcons will “deal with” the outcome of the NFL’s investigation into potential tampering, whatever it may be.

“The tampering deal, we obviously don’t believe we tampered, and we shared all the information with the league,” Blank told reporters Monday at the league meeting in Orlando. “And they’ll review the process and the facts and they are in the middle of doing that, and whatever the result is, we’ll deal with it.”

Cousins signed with Atlanta on a four-year contract worth up to $180 million on March 13, the first official day of free agency. The team and Cousins’ agent had agreed to terms during the so-called legal tampering period, the two days before the start of the new league year.

During an introductory press conference in Atlanta, Cousins said he had spoken to the Falcons’ head athletic trainer and head of PR on the phone before the legal negotiating window, which is against the rules for pending free agents.

The league is also investigating potential tampering by the Philadelphia Eagles with running back Saquon Barkley.

As for on the field, the Falcons believe Cousins will be the answer to the quarterback inconsistency they’ve experienced since parting with Matt Ryan. Cousins was averaging 291.4 passing yards per game last season with the Minnesota Vikings before tearing an Achilles tendon.

“Obviously our football folks felt strongly,” Blank said of Cousins. “Our fans I definitely think would concur with that. He’s a very high-quality quarterback, he’s performed at a high level for 12 years in the league and feel pretty fortunate having him as a quarterback and look forward to seeing the results with him.”

Cousins has thrown for 39,471 yards, 270 touchdowns and 110 interceptions over in his NFL career, six seasons with Washington and six seasons with Minnesota.

–Field Level Media

Andrew Luck plans to stay retired. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Commanders cleared in Andrew Luck tampering case

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Washington Commanders officials never made contact with retired quarterback Andrew Luck or anyone in his immediate circle, clearing the franchise in a tampering probe ushered by the Indianapolis Colts.

ESPN reported the league found no immediate contact was made with Luck or persons of consequence in his inner circle, including his former agent.

The Colts own the contract rights to Luck because he retired in 2019 with three years left on his deal.

Colts owner Jim Irsay created a stir around the potential violation of the NFL anti-tampering policy first in a Twitter post and later by calling league commissioner Roger Goodell.

“If any NFL team attempted to contact Andrew Luck (or any associate of him) … to play for their Franchise — it would be a clear violation of the League’s Tampering Policy,” Irsay posted earlier this month.

Washington did sign former Colts starter Jacoby Brissett, who replaced Luck as the No. 1 quarterback with the Colts in 2019, to compete with 2022 fifth-round pick Sam Howell.

The Commanders parted with Carson Wentz after one season. Wentz was acquired in a trade with the Colts after a failed one-year trial in Indianapolis.

Both franchises have been on the quarterback carousel for multiple seasons.

Rookie No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson is the expected starter for the Colts in 2023 but could open the regular season behind journeyman Gardner Minshew, who played under new head coach Shane Steichen with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Colts will have a new starting quarterback for the fifth time in five seasons when the regular season kicks off in September.

–Field Level Media

Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell conducts warm-ups in Doak Campbell Stadium before the Garnet and Gold spring game kickoff Saturday, April 9, 2022. Fsu Spring Game155

Florida State coach alleges programs are tampering

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Florida State coach Mike Norvell said players on the Seminoles’ roster have received “outside contact” from other programs that would equate to tampering.

In a hyperactive offseason for transfers, Norvell said in an interview on the ACC Network the players in question weren’t in the transfer portal or considering a transfer from Tallahassee.

“We had conversations, there were a couple guys on our team that have had people from the outside talking. They were not in the portal, but they’re trying to make decisions on certain things for their future,” Norvell said. “That’s what’s unfortunate. But grateful for the guys we have and the team that we’re going to be able to move forward with. But for college athletics, we want to be together here moving forward.”

This isn’t the first charge of tampering in the conference since the 2021 season ended.

Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers had “six figure offers” on the table from schools trying to lure him, but turned them down, he told ESPN.

Pitt wide receiver Jordan Addison entered the transfer portal on the final day moves were permitted to be eligible for next season. Addison, who won the Biletnikoff Award with 1,479 receiving yards and 17 touchdown catches, landed at Southern California.

Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi told ESPN he reached out to new Trojans coach Lincoln Riley multiple times under suspicion he had contacted Addison about replacing No. 1 wide receiver Drake London, who entered the NFL draft.

It’s not just an ACC issue.

Texas sophomore wide receiver Xavier Worthy reportedly weighed a lucrative NIL-related offer from another program before the May 1 transfer portal closing in a report detailed by 247Sports. But Worthy ultimately decided he would stay in Austin.

–Field Level Media