2015 NFL Free Agents Investigation: Latest Details and Reaction

With a flurry of expected free-agent signings leaked over the weekend, the NFL is reportedly looking into any potential tampering violations between teams and players.  

Continue for updates.

---

Goodell: NFL Looking Into "Several" Teams

Wednesday, March 25

"Goodell says the league is looking into 'several' teams for anti-tampering window violations. I've heard more than 20. No word on penalties," Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported.

---

Cole: NFL Looking Into Dolphins' Deal With Suh

Thursday, March 12

Bleacher Report NFL Insider Jason Cole reported that the NFL will look into whether or not the Dolphins tampered with Ndamukong Suh before he signed his deal with the franchise:

On March 9, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reported that there will be a "dialogue" with the Dolphins regarding their reported acquisition of Ndamukong Suh. Robinson also noted it will not be a formal investigation:

---

NFL Sends Memo to Teams Regarding Free-Agency Rules

Monday, March 9

While teams were permitted to begin negotiations with with free agents starting Saturday, no agreements are permitted to be reached until 4 p.m. ET Tuesday afternoon. But with a slew of potential deals or agreements being reported Sunday, the league sent a memo to all 32 NFL teams regarding free-agency rules.

“The memo makes clear that we will look into any potential violations of the rules,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

Florio has more on that memo:

"

The rules say negotiations may occur. Last year’s memo says no agreement of any kind may be reached. This year’s memo tries to bridge an unbridgeable gap of logic.

The memo permits a team to “[s]ubmit a written summary of the club’s negotiating position,” to “[e]xpress its position as to signing bonus, length of contract, amounts of signing bonus and yearly compensation, and other items,” to “[a]djust its negotiating position in response to a certified agent’s position,” and “[e]ngage in an oral exchange of positions.”

However, the team must say that it’s only articulating a “negotiating position,” not “making an offer.” Under the memo, no offers can be made, and no express or implied agreements can be reached.

"

Those rules were very obviously breached with regularity this season. 

It isn't hard to see where this gets a bit muddy, however. Teams are essentially allowed to negotiate with agents and players up to the point where an agreement might naturally be in place, but in a competitive environment where teams are afraid to lose a player to a different team, agreements are naturally going to be reached. 

Not only that, but tampering before the free-agency period is probably the worst-kept secret in the NFL, and it has been for years. The NFL generally tries to brush it under the rug so it can dominate the sporting calendar at the start of free agency, but teams and agents have been skirting those rules for years.

NFL teams certainly don't seem happy with the memo, per Andrew Brandt of ESPN:

It seems rather odd to allow teams to negotiate for three days but not to reach any agreements, which is the endgame in any negotiation. It seems more logical for teams to either be allowed to negotiate during the period before free agency and reach unofficial agreements or to simply get rid of the negotiating period altogether. 

Trying to combine the two ideas simply doesn't make much sense.