Six months after former Dolphins coach Brian Flores accused team owner Stephen Ross of essentially bribing him to lose games to get a better draft position, the NFL has temporarily stripped Miami of Ross’ picks and draft premium, NFL Media reports. Commissioner Roger Goodell informed the franchise on Tuesday that a league investigation found that Ross at least hinted that he prioritized draft picks over a winning record in 2019, and that he impermissibly had repeated communications with both Tom Brady and Sean Payton while trying to recruit the big names for his team. team As a result, Ross has been fined $1.5 million and suspended until Oct. 17, while the Dolphins must give up their 2023 first-round pick and 2024 third-round pick for “violating the integrity of the game.”
The NFL’s investigation found that the Dolphins did not intentionally forfeit games in 2019, when the team finished 5-11, and could not support Flores’ remarkable claim that Ross offered him $100,000 per loss that season: “(There are differing recollections of the wording, timing and context (of the remark). However, this comment was not intended or considered a serious offer, nor by Mr. Ross or any other club person addressed the matter in no way.” However, he confirmed that Ross repeatedly suggested to Flores, team president Tom Garfinkel and general manager Chris Grier that the 2020 draft positioning should exceed a better 2019 win total. Ross’ comments, Goodell wrote, “even if made in jest … carry potential unnecessary risk.”
More than the tanking allegations, the NFL in its ruling Tuesday pressed the Dolphins’ contact with Brady and Payton, 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 “impermissible communications” with Brady on two separate occasions: first in 2019, as early as August of that season, while that the quarterback was playing for the opponent. Patriots; and again during and after the 2021 season, before Brady retired, and then returned, to the Buccaneers. “These discussions … focused on Brady becoming a limited partner of the Dolphins and possibly serving as a football executive,” the investigation found, “although at times they also included the possibility of him playing for the Dolphins.”
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The NFL investigation revealed that Ross and the Dolphins also illegally contacted Don Yee, Payton’s agent, in January while the longtime Saints coach was still working in New Orleans: “Miami did not sought New Orleans’ consent to have those discussions, which occurred earlier. Coach Payton announced his decision to step down as head coach of the Saints,” the NFL said. “Following this announcement, Miami requested permission to speak with Coach Payton for the first time, which New Orleans refused to grant.”
While serving his suspension, Ross is not allowed to be present at Dolphins facilities or represent the club at any NFL team or event. He is also prohibited from attending any league meeting prior to the NFL’s annual owners meeting in 2023, or any league committee communications. Dolphins vice president Bruce Beal has also been banned from league meetings for the remainder of the 2022 season and fined $500,000.
Ross has since released his own statement about the punishment, downplaying the tampering charges while celebrating a victory over Flores’ allegations of hit-and-run: “The independent investigation cleared our organization of any issues related to the tank and all other allegations by Brian Flores. As I have. However, those allegations were false, malicious and defamatory, and this matter has now been resolved. As for manipulation, I strongly disagree with the conclusions and the punishment. However, I will accept the result because the most important thing is that there are no distractions for our team as we begin an exciting and winning season. I will not let anything stand in the way of that.”