Falcons ‘Blatantly’ Broke Rules to Steal Kirk Cousins From Vikings

Kirk Cousins Admitted to Falcons’ Tampering During Introductory Press Conference

GettyQuarterback Kirk Cousins, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings.

The incident to which Florio referred occurred during Cousins’ introductory press conference with the Falcons on March 13.

The quarterback’s first mishap involved mentioning that Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts was operating as a recruiting agent for the franchise several weeks before the league opened its legal tampering period on March 11. Cousins also slipped up and mentioned conversations with members of the organization prior to the appointed date.

“There’s great people here, and it’s not just the football team,” Cousins said. “I’m looking at the support staff. … Calling our head athletic trainer, talking to our head of [public relations] I’m thinking, ‘We got good people here.’”

NFL officials clearly agree with Florio — at least to the degree that they believe there may have been some inappropriate behavior on the part of the Falcons — as the league opened a tampering investigation into the team on March 14.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported on that day that the league was taking a look at a couple of organizations for illegal contact with free agents they eventually signed.

“The NFL is looking into potential tampering by the [Philadelphia] Eagles and Falcons prior to the start of free agency,” Pelissero said, per Sports Illustrated.

In the end, all the league can/will do is either fine the Falcons, penalize them in the coming draft, or both. However, the punishment will be worth the acquisition of Cousins in the long run, as his presence in the huddle renders the Falcons contenders in the NFC South Division and for the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Vikings have signed QB Sam Darnold to a one-year deal and appear focused on attempting to trade up from No. 11 in this year’s draft to select a franchise-caliber quarterback.