Stephen Ross was suspended by the league and was docked two draft picks following the NFL’s lengthy investigation into tampering allegations. The investigation into tampering involved improper conversations with Tom Brady and Sean Payton and accusations that former head coach Brian Flores was instructed to lose games intentionally, the league announced Tuesday.
The Dolphins will be forced to forfeit a 2023 first-round pick and 2024 third-round pick, while Ross will be suspended from team operations through Oct. 17, 2022, and pay a $1.5 million fine as a result of the NFL’s probe.
Ross was not thrilled with the result.
“Ross is going apes–t,” a league source told Pro Football Talk.
Ross released a statement Tuesday, after the ruling was handed down in which he vented some fo his frustration.
“The independent investigation cleared our organization on any issues related to tanking and all of Brian Flores other allegations,” the statement read. “As I have said all along, these allegations were false, malicious and defamatory, and this issue is now put to rest. With regards to tampering, I strongly disagree with the conclusions and the punishment. However, I will accept the outcome because the most important thing is that there be no distractions for our team as we begin an exciting and winning season. I will not allow anything to get in the way of that.”
Ross will also be barred from all league meetings prior to the Annual Meeting in 2023 and was removed from all league committees indefinitely.
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Dolphins vice chairman and limited partner Bruce Beal engaged in conversations with Brady while he was under contract with the Patriots and Ross was kept “informed” of those conversations, which included Brady “becoming a limited partner in the Dolphins and possibly serving as a football executive, although at times they also included the possibility of his playing for the Dolphins,” the NFL revealed.
The NFL’s probe also looked into accusations made by former head coach Flores that the Dolphins intentionally lost games during the 2019 season to improve their draft stock.
“The Dolphins did not intentionally lose games during the 2019 season,” the memo continued. “Nor did anyone at the club, including Mr. Ross, instruct Coach Flores to do so. No witness contended otherwise. The Dolphins competed hard to win every game, including at the end of the season when they beat Cincinnati and New England, despite worsening Miami’s position in the 2020 draft.”
Coming down so hard on the Dolphins is a way for the NFL to send a huge message to other teams who might try something similar in the future.
