UPDATE: NFL might 'drop the hammer' on the Falcons for tampering

[medaille]

Didn't the Eagles and Cardinals swap 3rd round picks last year? This was mandated by the NFL, negotiated by both teams and finalized hours before the draft began, and the picks involved were for the current year. It included a future 5th rounder but the bulk of the punishment was meted out in 2023. 

Now, I don't know if our situation is the same or even remotely close to what happened in that one.

I don't think it was league mandated, but rather the teams can to an agreement that avoided the league mandating something to them and the league allowed it.

[Havoc]

I think this will come down before the draft and the Falcons will pay dearly if contact was made before the window. We already know a player contact was ongoing well before it, but we don’t know if it was at the behest of the team. If it was, they are going to get hammered - likely worse than Miami. If it didn’t happen until later, then I doubt it will be that bad.

My guess is it was before and they are getting smoked. A first round pick swap? I could definitely see that and possibly worse. Goodell has been one tough arbiter of justice and I don’t see him suddenly changing his style. This involved the loss of a franchise QB. It altered the entire draft for the Vikings. Instead of being in position for 2 top 25 defenders, they now have had to pivot. They may end up losing two firsts this year and a 1st next year in an attempt to cover the loss.

[pattersaur]

I think this will come down before the draft and the Falcons will pay dearly if contact was made before the window. We already know a player contact was ongoing well before it, but we don’t know if it was at the behest of the team. If it was, they are going to get hammered - likely worse than Miami. If it didn’t happen until later, then I doubt it will be that bad.

My guess is it was before and they are getting smoked. A first round pick swap? I could definitely see that and possibly worse. Goodell has been one tough arbiter of justice and I don’t see him suddenly changing his style. This involved the loss of a franchise QB. It altered the entire draft for the Vikings. Instead of being in position for 2 top 25 defenders, they now have had to pivot. They may end up losing two firsts this year and a 1st next year in an attempt to cover the loss.

I'm not sure where the burden of proof lands on something like this, or if the Vikings are even involved at all, but to me a player telling Kirk, "hey bro, come to Atlanta, we'll pay you well" a little early is hardly the sole reason Kirk chose Atlanta over the Vikings. Maybe I'm being naive or don't have all the facts but isn't the early chatter kind of immaterial? We still could've matched or beaten the offer. If Kirk knew their offer early then if he wanted to stay in MIN, wouldn't we have known their offer early too? I guess I fail to see how this puts us at some huge disadvantage.

As for using multiple firsts to fill the QB spot-- no one is making KAM do anything.

But nothing would make me happier than to be wrong on this--aside from drafting Maye and re-upping JJ. So I hope you are correct! Add this to the long list of things we Vikes fans are waiting for an answer on.

[Havoc]

I'm not sure where the burden of proof lands on something like this, or if the Vikings are even involved at all, but to me a player telling Kirk, "hey bro, come to Atlanta, we'll pay you well" a little early is hardly the sole reason Kirk chose Atlanta over the Vikings. Maybe I'm being naive or don't have all the facts but isn't the early chatter kind of immaterial? We still could've matched or beaten the offer. If Kirk knew their offer early then if he wanted to stay in MIN, wouldn't we have known their offer early too? I guess I fail to see how this puts us at some huge disadvantage.

As for using multiple firsts to fill the QB spot-- no one is making KAM do anything.

But nothing would make me happier than to be wrong on this--aside from drafting Maye and re-upping JJ. So I hope you are correct! Add this to the long list of things we Vikes fans are waiting for an answer on.

There’s a small possibility the tampering was limited to Cousins calling the trainer - what he admitted to. 

I think it is naive to believe that is all that went down. Looking at reports even weeks before, it was reported he was going there. It got to the point were Cousins had to come out and say the Vikings were still in it. What generated weeks of those reports? Do you think it was him trying to get more money? Or do you think the sale has already been made. 

I don’t know if you’ve ever worked in sales or in the markets, but getting a shot at someone’s business ahead of everyone else, especially with no one knowing, is a massive advantage. It’s sort of like insider trading - knowing what no one else knows and taking advantage of it. I personally could sell Cousins on Atlanta under such circumstances. Any organization could. Not not like Atlanta was the only team going to make him an offer. If they tampered well ahead of time, they jumped everyone and it was probably like taking candy from a baby. Anyone worth a crap could have closed him. 

As for its impact on the Vikings, I don’t now how people fail to grasp it. Cousins could be our starting QB, we could have added everyone we have in free agency, and been looking at 2 first round picks. Elite corner prospect at 11? DT? Dude, you name it, they would have been in an awesome position and have cleaned up the balance sheet.

Not getting a QB is NOT an option for Kwesi. They have to replace Cousins and it’s not free. 

The loss is tremendous and can have negative long term consequences. Let me ask you this: if we trade a bunch of picks for Maye and he bombs, how are you feeling about the loss of a draft capital all because the Falcons tampered with and took Cousins? That is a distinct possibility now. There’s nothing saying the works out.

[ArizonaViking]

I really don't think Atlanta cared about the tampering rule one way or another, as long as they got first dibs on Cousins...

[purplefaithful]

Besides the Vikings, who else were the Dirty Birdies really competing with for Cousins?

Blank was willing to write the check, guarantee the term and they had all the intangibles on their side too.

IMO there was no need to tamper.

[NFL Draft Guru]

Didn't the Eagles and Cardinals swap 3rd round picks last year? This was mandated by the NFL, negotiated by both teams and finalized hours before the draft began, and the picks involved were for the current year. It included a future 5th rounder but the bulk of the punishment was meted out in 2023. 

Now, I don't know if our situation is the same or even remotely close to what happened in that one.

A lot will probably come down to how "damaged" the Vikings were in all of this. If it benefitted Cousins and the Falcons (e.g allowed them to speed up the process) I could see it being a straight pick forfeiture. If there is clear evidence it materially decreased the Vikings chances to resign him I imagine they'll fight tooth & nail for some type of a pick swap. I wouldn't get too excited it'll be anything wild though.

[MaroonBells]

A lot will probably come down to how "damaged" the Vikings were in all of this. If it benefitted Cousins and the Falcons (e.g allowed them to speed up the process) I could see it being a straight pick forfeiture. If there is clear evidence it materially decreased the Vikings chances to resign him I imagine they'll fight tooth & nail for some type of a pick swap. I wouldn't get too excited it'll be anything wild though.

Yeah, I think best case scenario is they upgrade one of our 4ths for one of their 3rds. But I'm not even expecting that. It's hard to see how the Vikings were damaged, so I still think the most likely outcome is day three pick taken from the Falcons and the Vikings get nothing.

[Havoc]

Besides the Vikings, who else were the Dirty Birdies really competing with for Cousins?

Blank was willing to write the check, guarantee the term and they had all the intangibles on their side too.

IMO there was no need to tamper.

Raiders were all in on trying to get him. They were expected to make a very significant offer. Broncos were also expected to pursue him. Commanders were said to try, but not expected to succeed. Seahawks were a rumor, but probably long shot. He would likely have seen a minimum of 5 offers and could have worked them to maximize his contract….the same way he’s done it every other time but this one. Instead he “signed” roughly 45 minutes into the legal tampering window. The time when they could actually get offers - under the rules.

Free Agency started March 13th. Up until about the 5th, the Vikings were expected to resign him. Then around the 7th reports come out it’s expected he goes to the Falcons. There’s a scramble to get out there the Vikings “are still in it”. About the same time, the Patriots inexplicably announced they were not going to pursue him (no idea why they would specifically announce this, but they did). 

We’ll see what the league uncovered. It may not impact this year, but they sure seem to be working to wrap it up before this draft.

[MaroonBells]

The Purple Persuasion
@TPPSkol
Forget the pick swap of the #Falcons 8th pick and the #Vikings 11th pick as a penalty for tampering. Per@PAOnTheMic via@KFAN1003 a pick swap of Atlanta’s No. 8 for Minnesota’s No. 23 is on his radar ?

“Yeah, 8 for 23 is on my radar. Well, let's see how significant this is. I'm telling you right now, if this side, if the cornfield side can prove what you did compromised our ability to negotiate or work with that man, this will be unprecedented. If they can prove that.”