Redskin's tampering?

Wouldn't surprise me.... I think I said I wouldn't be surprised considering he was signed at like 12:02 AM

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090402/SPORTS01/904020373/1002/SPORTS

By Jim Wyatt ? THE TENNESSEAN ? April 2, 2009

The Titans have asked the NFL to look into tampering charges against the Washington Redskins in the signing of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, sources familiar with the situation said

The Titans recently turned in what they considered to be evidence that the Redskins had contact with Haynesworth before he became a free agent in February. The league indicated to the Titans that it planned to look into the matter.

Haynesworth, who played his first seven NFL seasons with the Titans, agreed to terms on a $100 million contract with the Redskins five hours into the free agency period on Feb. 27.

Titans officials declined to comment Wednesday. Greg Aiello, senior vice president for the NFL, would neither confirm nor deny that the Titans had contacted the league.

"There are issues of tampering that come up from time to time and if we need to take some action then of course we announce that," Aiello said. "Until then we don't comment on it.''

NFL rules prohibit teams from contacting agents for players still under contract with another team, but such cases are hard to prove. Penalties against teams found guilty of tampering have included the forfeiture of draft picks, though there have been few cases in recent years.

The Titans did not file a formal grievance with the NFL. Instead, they turned in newspaper articles and audio from a Washington, D.C.-area radio station in which a Redskins official made what the Titans felt were incriminating comments.

The information was sent to Jeff Pash, the NFL's executive vice president and general counsel, a source said. Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to be involved in the decision as to whether the matter demands a full-blown investigation.

There was rampant speculation that Haynesworth would end up in Washington well before he signed with the Redskins. One report before free agency indicated an agreement between the Redskins and Haynesworth was already in place.

In an interview last month, Haynesworth said he didn't think the Redskins were guilty of tampering. He said a meeting between his agent, Chad Speck, and Redskins owner Daniel Snyder at the NFL Combine a week prior to free agency centered on another Speck client, Redskins receiver Malcolm Kelly.

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Speck could not be reached for comment Wednesday. He said recently that he negotiated four to five hours with the Redskins after the free agency period began at 11 p.m. Feb. 26, and while the contract numbers were agreed upon early on Feb. 27, the contract wasn't finalized until around 4 p.m.



"All I know is the Redskins called my agent at 11:04 p.m. Nashville time and they started negotiating then,'' Haynesworth said last month. "They weren't anywhere close in the first couple of hours and then they got serious. Chad worked the deal then and it worked out.''

Agents and players are not subject to penalties for tampering.

In March 2007, Goodell ruled that the San Francisco 49ers tampered with Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs the previous offseason by contacting the player's agent, Drew Rosenhaus. The 49ers had to forfeit their fifth-round draft pick last year, and the Bears and 49ers also swapped third round picks.

Aiello estimated the league reviews a handful of potential tampering cases each year but said most of the inquiries don't lead to anything.

Speck could not be reached for comment Wednesday. He said recently that he negotiated four to five hours with the Redskins after the free agency period began at 11 p.m. Feb. 26, and while the contract numbers were agreed upon early on Feb. 27, the contract wasn't finalized until around 4 p.m

 

That's probably true but only the stupid get caught. ESPN is now reporting that the Titans are sending the NFL newspaper articles and a radio interview from a Redskins official that prove the Skins broke the rules.