Kirk Cousins addresses tampering investigation

The NFL is investigating the Atlanta Falcons for tampering largely because of remarks Kirk Cousins made after signing with the team, but the quarterback seems to think the probe will uncover very little.

Cousins was asked at a news conference earlier this week about the status of the tampering investigation involving the Falcons. He claimed there is “not a whole lot there.”

“The league’s still kind of going through that,” Cousins said, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “So, I’ll let them do it. But there’s not a whole lot there.”

That might be wishful thinking from Cousins. There is almost no question Atlanta violated tampering rules before they signed the quarterback. We know this because the 35-year-old admitted that he had direct contact with members of the Falcons organization before league rules would have permitted it. Even if it is common for teams to recruit free agents before the legal tampering window opens, there is a “don’t ask, don’t tell” mentality that exists across the league.

Cousins also admitted that Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts began recruiting him “weeks” before free agency began. The NFL typically ignores player-to-player tampering but, again, Cousins invited the investigation by speaking so openly about it.

It would be a surprise if the Falcons did not face some sort of disciplinary action for tampering, regardless of Cousins' view on the matter.