NFL disciplines Miami Dolphins, suspends owner Stephen Ross, fines him $1.5 million

MIAMI - The National Football League is disciplining the Miami Dolphins after an investigation found they violated policies relating to the integrity of the game.

A six-month investigation, that covered events from 2019-2022, looked at allegations by former head coach Brian Flores that the team violated League rules that prohibit tampering with a player and a coach under contract to other clubs.

The investigation also looked at whether the team intentionally lost games to improve the club's position in the 2020 draft and whether Chairman and Managing General Partner Mr. Stephen Ross offered Flores financial incentives to lose games.

According to the NFL, "the investigation conclusively established violations of the Anti-Tampering Policy on three separate occasions."

In 2019, the investigation found the Dolphins had "impermissible communications" with quarterback Tom Brady in 2019-20, while he was under contract to the New England Patriots. The investigation found those communications began as early as August 2019. The discussions were conducted by Bruce Beal, the Dolphins' Vice Chairman and limited partner, who kept Ross and other Dolphins executives informed.

The investigation also found that during and after the 2021 season, the Dolphins again had "impermissible communications" with both Brady and his agent, while he was under contract to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

In January 2022, the Dolphins had "impermissible communications" with Don Yee, the agent for New Orleans Saints' head coach Sean Payton, about having him become Miami's head coach.

"Miami did not seek consent from New Orleans to have these discussions, which occurred before Coach Payton announced his decision to retire as head coach of the Saints," according to the NFL.

"The investigators found tampering violations of unprecedented scope and severity," Commissioner Goodell said. "I know of no prior instance of a team violating the prohibition on tampering with both a head coach and star player, to the potential detriment of multiple other clubs, over a period of several years. Similarly, I know of no prior instance in which ownership was so directly involved in the violations."

As for tanking to improve their draft position or Ross offering Flores financial incentives to lose, the investigation did not find any violations.

"The Dolphins did not intentionally lose games during the 2019 season. 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," according the NFL statement.

The investigation found on a number of occasions during the 2019 season, Ross did express his belief that the team's position in the 2020 draft should take priority over their win-loss record. These comments were made most frequently to team executives including Team President Tom Garfinkel.

"These comments, which he took to be suggestions that he lose games, troubled Coach Flores and led him to express his concerns in writing to senior club executives, each of whom assured Coach Flores that everyone, including Mr. Ross, supported him in building a winning culture in Miami. After this, Mr. Ross no longer made any such comments to Coach Flores."

As for Flores' claim that Ross offered him $100,000 to lose games, the investigation found "differing recollections about the wording, timing, and context."

"However phrased, such a comment was not intended or taken to be a serious offer, nor was the subject pursued in any respect by Mr. Ross or anyone else at the club," according to the NFL statement.

" I am thankful that the NFL's investigator found my factual allegations against Stephen Ross are true. At the same time, I am disappointed to learn that the investigator minimized Mr. Ross's offers and pressure to tank games especially when I wrote and submitted a letter at the time to Dolphins executives documenting my serious concerns regarding this subject at the time which the investigator has in her possession," Flores said in a statement. 

"While the investigator found that the Dolphins had engaged in impermissible tampering of "unprecedented scope and severity," Mr. Ross will avoid any meaningful consequence. There is nothing more important when it comes to the game of football itself than the integrity of the game. When the integrity of the game is called into question, fans suffer, and football suffers," he added.   

Based on the investigation's findings, the NFL made the following disciplinary measures.

The Dolphins will forfeit the club's first-round selection in the 2023 NFL draft and third-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Ross has been suspended through October 17, 2022. During this period, he may not be present at the Dolphins' facility and may not represent the club at any team or NFL event. He may not attend any League meeting prior to the Annual Meeting in 2023, is removed from all League committees indefinitely, and will be fined $1.5 million.

Beal may not attend any League meeting for the remainder of the 2022 season and was fined $500,000. 

In response to the NFL's decision, the Miami Dolphins posted on Twitter:

Read the full NFL statement:

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