Kirk Cousins ​​reacts to NFL tampering investigation into Atlanta Falcons move

Kirk Cousins ​​has ignored tampering allegations against him and the Atlanta Falcons.

The quarterback, who signed a massive 4-year, $180m (£141.8m) deal with Atlanta in March, appeared to let slip that there had been direct contact between him and the team during the legal trading period in March, which is a clear no-no under NFL rules.

“The league is still going through this,” Cousins, who arrived in Atlanta after a successful stint with the Minnesota Vikings, said during the team’s OTA press conference last week. “So I’ll let them do it. But there’s not much there.”

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The investigation was launched after Cousins ​​said during his introductory press conference: “There are great people here. And it’s not just the football team. I mean, I’m looking at the support staff meeting – call yesterday, calling our trainer sports manager, talking to our PR person, I think we have good people here and it’s exciting to be a part of it.

Cousins ​​hit the market as one of the hottest free agent quarterbacks. The NFL free agency period began with a 52-hour legal tampering phase beginning March 11, during which teams are strictly prohibited from making direct contact with players, although they can initiate discussions with agents and representatives.

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The Falcons announced the signing of Kirk Cousins ​​on March 13, the first day of unrestricted free agency. However, Cousins’ own words during his introduction raised eyebrows when he mentioned a “meeting” – quickly changing it to “call” – with the team’s athletic trainer, and revealed that Kyle Pitts had courted him in Atlanta “weeks ago,” hinting at potential. tampering if the tight end acted with the team’s blessing.

Cousins’ alleged interaction with Atlanta’s medical team is likely related to concerns over a season-ending Achilles tendon injury. Since taking over as Washington’s starting quarterback in 2015, Cousins ​​has become one of the NFL’s most reliable passers, missing just one game and racking up three straight seasons with over 4,200 passing yards. runs until 2023.

Despite this, his recent injury and his age (he will be 36 at the start of the 2024 season) have led to some concerns about his longevity in the league.

Atlanta escaped immediate repercussions from the draft, as the NFL expanded its investigation into the Falcons beyond the late April draft. Still, they could face steep penalties, including the loss of future draft picks.

Yet, within the Falcons camp, assurances of their innocence resonate everywhere, with owner Arthur Blank delivering a clear message: “The tampering agreement, we obviously don’t believe we tampered with it, and we shared all the information with the league…they “I’m going to look at the process and the facts and they’re doing it, and whatever the outcome is, we’ll deal with it.”