The legal tampering period officially has become a farce.
The NFL sent a letter to teams Monday morning, asking them to stop making monetary offers to impending free agents. The legal tampering period began Saturday at noon, and free agency doesn’t officially begin until the new league year starts Tuesday at 4 p.m.
NFL Media’s Albert Breer got a hold of the email and posted it on Twitter:
“Clubs were advised of the rules for the three-day negotiating period in PP-23-15 (attached). These rules include limitations such as that a club cannot make an ‘offer;’ or enter into a written or oral agreement of any kind, express or implied, or make promises or representations of any type concerning the terms or conditions of employment to be offered to any Unrestricted Free Agent for inclusion in a Player Contract after the start of the new League Year; or provide assurances of intent as to the future execution of an NFL Player Contract. Clubs were further advised that ‘Any attempt to undermine the purpose of this negotiating period may be considered conduct detrimental to the League.’ At this time, the League office is beginning investigations into a number of reported agreements with clubs. Violations will be dealt with accordingly.”
Several players already have agreed to contracts with new teams and figures have been disclosed through reports, including defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh’s six-year, $114 million agreement with the Miami Dolphins.
It’s worth noting that the New England Patriots have not broken any rules. Since Devin McCourty was still under club control, the Patriots were permitted to negotiate with the All-Pro safety.
Thumbnail photo via Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports Images
