Six months after former Dolphins coach Brian Flores accused team owner Stephen Ross of essentially bribing him to lose games for a better draft position, the NFL Miami has temporarily suspended both Ross and premium draft picks. NFL Media Reports. Commissioner Roger Goodell told the franchise on Tuesday that a league investigation found that Ross had at least hinted at prioritizing draft picks over a winning record in 2019 and that he had improperly communicated repeatedly with Tom Brady and Sean Payton when he tried to recruit the big names for him team. As a result, Ross was fined $1.5 million and suspended until October 17 while the Dolphins vacate their 2023 first-round pick and 2024 third-round pick for “violating the integrity of the game.” have to.
The NFL investigation found that the Dolphins did not intentionally lose games in 2019 when the team finished 5-11, and could not support Flores’ remarkable claim that Ross offered him $100,000 for each loss that season: “(It ) gives various recollections of the wording, timing and context (of the comment).However worded, such comment was not intended nor should it be construed as a serious offer, nor was the subject in any way raised by Mr. Ross or anyone else followed up at the club. However, it did confirm that Ross Flores, team president Tom Garfinkel and general manager Chris Grier repeatedly suggested that draft positioning in 2020 should trump a better overall win in 2019. Ross’ comments, Goodell wrote, “even if they were made in jest are … carry an unnecessary potential risk.”
More than the tanking allegations, the NFL cited the Dolphins’ contact with Brady and Payton in Tuesday’s ruling, citing “tampering violations of unprecedented scope and severity.” The investigation, led by former U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White, found that Ross and the Dolphins had “improper communications” with Brady on two separate occasions — first in 2019, back in August of that season while the quarterback was playing for the rival Patriots ; and again during and after the 2021 season before Brady retired and later returned to the Buccaneers. “These discussions … focused on Brady becoming a limited partner of the Dolphins and possibly acting as football manager,” the inquiry noted, “although at times they also included the possibility that he was playing for the Dolphins.”
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The NFL investigation found that Ross and the Dolphins also illegally contacted Don Yee, Payton’s agent, in January while the longtime Saints coach was still employed by New Orleans: “Miami has not asked New Orleans for approval of these talks.” “Following that announcement, Miami requested permission to speak with Coach Payton for the first time, which New Orleans refused.”
During his suspension, Ross may not be present at the Dolphins facility or represent the club at a team or NFL event. He is also prohibited from attending league meetings prior to the 2023 NFL Annual Owners Meeting or league committee communications. Bruce Beal, the Dolphins vice chairman, was also banned from attending league meetings for the remainder of the 2022 season and fined $500,000.
Ross since then published his own statement In terms of punishment, they downplayed the tampering allegations while celebrating a victory over Flores’ fueling allegations: “The independent investigation has cleared our organization on all issues relating to the fueling and all other Brian Flores allegations. As I have said all along, these allegations were false, malicious and defamatory and this issue is now being settled. Regarding manipulation, I totally disagree with the conclusions and punishment. However, I will accept the result because the most important thing is that there are no distractions for our team as we start an exciting and successful season. I won’t let anything get in the way of that.”