offGrid NFL - Miami Dolphins sanctioned over Tom Brady tampering

The NFL has stripped the Miami Dolphins of their 2023 first-round pick and a third-round selection in 2024 following a six-month investigation into their alleged communications with quarterback, Tom Brady and former New Orleans Saints head coach, Sean Payton.

Dolphins owner Stephen was fined $1.5 million and has been suspended through to October 17. He has also been indefinitely removed from league committee meetings until next offseason. Vice Chairman Bruce Beal was fined $500,000.

not sure how harsh a penalty Stephen Ross thought he'd face if it was uncovered, but basically

he traded a 1st & a 3rd

for

a shot to get Tom Brady to play QB for the Dolphins first in 2020 and again in 2022

and

a shot to get Sean Payton to coach the Dolphins in 2022
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 2, 2022

The NFL ruled that the Dolphins had “impermissible communications with quarterback Tom Brady in 2019-20, while he was under contract to the New England Patriots.”

Regarding their communications with Sean Payton, the NFL ruled that “Miami did not seek consent from New Orleans to have these discussions.” These discussions occurred before Payton announced his decision to leave the Saints in January 2022.

Here is the notice and penalties the NFL is imposing on the Dolphins for Integrity-Of-The-Game Violations: pic.twitter.com/Qk8KNaALyN
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 2, 2022

“The investigators found tampering violations of unprecedented scope and severity,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “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, which looked into violations of NFL policies relating to the integrity of the game, also determined that “the Dolphins did not intentionally lose games during the 2019 season”, following an accusation and lawsuit filing made by former head coach Brian Flores against the team.

In a statement, Ross “strongly” disagreed with the conclusion of the investigation, but claimed it had cleared the Dolphins of “any issues related to tanking and of Brian Flores’ other allegations.”