Tom Brady escapes punishment in Dolphins scandal: Here’s why NFL won’t fine QB for tampering

Released by the NFL. His investigative report Tuesday into the Miami Dolphins and although Tom Brady was a key figure in the report, he will not face any punishment for his role.

The NFL already is. told multiple media outlets That Brady will face no penalty. There was some question about whether Brady would be punished after the Dolphins and owner Stephen Ross were hammered by the league.

After a seven-month investigation, the NFL found that the Dolphins had contacted Brady on two separate occasions while he was under contract with another team.

Here’s what the league’s investigation found:

• The Dolphins had unauthorized contact with quarterback Tom Brady in 2019-20, while he was under contract with the New England Patriots. These communications began in early August 2019 and continued throughout the 2019 season and postseason. These numerous and detailed discussions were conducted by Mr. Bell, who in turn hired Mr. Ross and other Dolphins executives reported their conversations with Mr. Brady
• The Dolphins again had miscommunication with Mr. Both. Brady and his agent during and after the 2021 season, when he is under contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The talks began in early December 2021 and focused on Mr. Brady is set to become a limited partner in the Dolphins and possibly serve as a football executive, although at times they have included the possibility of him playing for the Dolphins. Both M/s. Ross and Bell were active participants in these discussions.
• In January 2022, the Dolphins had illicit communications with New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton’s agent, Don Yee, about being with Mr. Payton serves as Miami’s head coach. Miami did not agree with New Orleans for those discussions, which took place before Coach Payton announced his decision to retire as the Saints’ head coach. After the announcement, Miami requested permission to speak with Coach Payton for the first time, which New Orleans refused.

The NFL also announced that Sean Payton would not face any punishment. The Dolphins, on the other hand, got nailed by the NFL: they were locked up for two draft picks (a 2023 first-rounder and a 2024 third-rounder), fined Ross $1.5 million and suspended him until October. went. 17

As for Brady, the reason he hasn’t been punished is because the NFL’s anti-tampering policy puts the onus on teams to report any outside tampering. Basically, the tampering team can be penalized, but the player cannot. If the Dolphins got to Brady first, they were the ones who fumbled. On the other hand, if Brady arrived first, the Dolphins had to report it to the NFL.

Here is the correct wording of the rule. Anti-tampering policy of the league:

“If a club is contacted by a player (or his representative) who is under contract or whose negotiating rights are held by another club, and such player to negotiate with other clubs is not permitted, or such player is not in. the period of negotiation permitted under the terms of the operative collective bargaining agreement, then the contacted club (i) to negotiate with the player or his agent; is prohibited from; (ii) discussing the player’s potential employment with the contacted club in general; or (iii) negotiating the player’s contract or his potential or ongoing contract with his current club. To discuss.”

If Brady reached out to the Dolphins, he had no obligation to report that the conversation took place, so he would not be penalized. As for the Dolphins, they clearly did not follow the NFL’s anti-tampering policy, which is why the NFL came down hard on them.