MIAMI GARDENS, Fla., Aug. 2 (UPI) — The league announced Tuesday that the NFL has stripped the Miami Dolphins of two picks and fined and suspended owner Steven Ross for violating fair play policy. .
Commissioner Roger Goodell cleared the Dolphins of violations after six months of independent investigation by the Securities and Exchange Administration and former Head of Securities and Exchange Mary Jo White and a legal team.
“Investigators discovered a hoax of unprecedented scope and severity,” Goodell said in a statement.
“I don’t know of a single case where a team violated the ban on interference in the activities of both the head coach and star player, potentially damaging other clubs within a few years.
“Similarly, I don’t know of a previous case where property rights were directly involved in violations.”
The Dolphins lost a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in this discipline.
Ross is suspended until October 17. He was fined $1.5 million. Dolphins vice president and limited partner (team owner) Bruce Beal was also suspended from league meetings in 2022 and fined $500,000.
Description by Stephen Ross. pic.twitter.com/Ori647H0oF — Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 2, 2022
The investigation found that the Dolphins had an “inappropriate relationship” with Tom Brady, with the star quarterback on contract with the New England Patriots during the 2019-20 season and with Tampa Bay after the 2021 season. Pirates of the Gulf.
These discussions were moderated by Bruce Beal, vice president of the Dolphins, who the league said informed Ross and other Dolphins executives about the conversations with Brady.
The league said there was another contact between the Dolphins, Brady and his manager. Further discussion focused on “Brady’s limited partner status. [team owner] Yunus” and maybe a football leader. These negotiations also left open the possibility of Brady playing for the Dolphins.
Investigators also found in January that the Dolphins had an unacceptable relationship with former New Orleans Saints agent Sean Payton, Don Yee. That contact was about getting “Mr. Payton as head coach of Miami.”
In these discussions, which took place before Payton decided to retire, the Dolphins did not seek the permission of the Saints. The team later contacted the Saints, but they were not allowed to contact Payton.
Investigators are also investigating allegations that the Dolphins deliberately lost games in 2019 and that Ross offered former coach Brian Flores $100,000 for each loss that season.
Investigators determined that the Dolphins “accidentally lost a match” and that neither Ross nor anyone else had ordered Flores to do so.
“An independent investigation has confirmed that our organization has had no issues with tank refueling and all other allegations against Brian Flores,” Ross said in a statement. Said. “As I said before, these allegations are baseless, malicious and defamatory and the matter is closed.
“As for fraud, I strongly disagree with the consequences and the punishment. But I will accept the result because the most important thing is that our team is not interrupted as we start an exciting and winning season. I won’t let anyone get in your way.”
Ross, 82, bought 50% of Dolphins in 2008. He is not allowed to participate in a Dolphins facility and may not represent the Dolphins at any NFL team or event during the suspension period. He will also not be able to attend league meetings until 2023 and has been suspended from all league committees indefinitely.
Flores, who was dismissed by the Dolphins in January, also made a statement on Tuesday through his lawyers. The Pittsburgh Steelers assistant filed a lawsuit against the Dolphins and NFL teams in February, alleging racism in the NFL’s recruitment practices and allegations that Ross intentionally encouraged them to lose games.
Flores said, “I am grateful to the NFL superintendent for confirming my true allegations against Steven Ross.” Said.
“At the same time, I was disappointed to know that the inspector had minimized Mr. John’s suggestions and pressure. Ross wrote and presented a letter to Dolphins executives documenting my serious concerns about tank games, especially at the time. The investigator had time.
“Although the Inspector determined that the Dolphins were involved in an unacceptable attack of “unprecedented scale and violence,” Mr. Mr. Ross had no significant influence.
“When it comes to football, nothing is more important than the integrity of the game. When it comes to the integrity of the game, fans, football suffer.
In June, the NFL filed a lawsuit to take Flores’ racial discrimination case to arbitration. A federal judge has yet to rule on arbitration.
Training at the Baptist Health Education Complex in Miami Gardens, Florida, the Dolphins will face Brady’s Buccaneers in their first practice game on August 13 in Tampa, Florida.
Source: Breitbart
