Tag: legal tampering window

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel smoothly avoided tampering when asked about Jordan Poyer

This was a slick move by Mike McDaniel.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel wasn’t about to sacrifice any draft picks over accidental tampering at this week’s 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

After McDaniel was asked about Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer strongly hinting he had interest in joining the Dolphins as a free agent, McDaniel quickly sidestepped the prompt.

The Miami coach also found a very humorous, roundabout way to lament on the Dolphins losing two draft picks (including a 2023 first-rounder) in the franchise’s tampering scandal involving Tom Brady and Sean Payton.

While McDaniel was elsewhere when all of that happened, he won’t let his team get fooled again when it comes to breaking league rules.

Well, you can’t fault McDaniel’s savviness. As you well know, NFL teams aren’t allowed any contact with free agents until the “legal tampering window” opens shortly before the start of the new league year.

This year, teams can start negotiating with prospective players on March 13. Maybe the Dolphins and Poyer will start talking then.

Legal tampering window means phone could start ringing for 21 Cowboys

Monday kicks off a 52-hour period when NFL clubs may begin negotiating with other free agents; some fan favorites could be leaving Dallas.

The legal tampering window is about to open. With the new league year about to officially begin on Wednesday afternoon, the league lets teams gets a head-start on the free agency frenzy by allowing a 52-hour chunk of time prior to that when front offices can reach out to unrestricted free agents to begin preliminary negotiations to bring them aboard.

Theoretically, the phones of at least some Cowboys players are about to start blowing up. The reality is, though, that there have almost certainly been private discussions taking place for some time.

Unrestricted free agents can legally talk through terms with new teams starting around midday on Monday. Contracts can be agreed upon conversationally, but nothing can be signed until the start of the league year on Wednesday.

The Cowboys have 17 players who will become free agents when the clock strikes 11 a.m. in Dallas:

  • DT Eli Ankou
  • CB Chidobe Awuzie
  • TE Blake Bell
  • WR Noah Brown
  • DL Tyrone Crawford
  • QB Andy Dalton
  • OT Cameron Erving
  • CB C.J. Goodwin
  • LS L.P. Ladouceur
  • LB Sean Lee
  • CB Jourdan Lewis
  • C Joe Looney
  • LB Justin March
  • OT Jordan Mills
  • DE Aldon Smith
  • LB Joe Thomas
  • S Xavier Woods

Quarterback Dak Prescott was taken off this list when he signed his record-breaking contract last week. Fullback Jamize Olawale was released the same day.

Restricted free agents and exclusive-rights free agents may negotiate with the teams currently holding their rights. If they’re not tendered by 3:59 Eastern on Wednesday afternoon, they become unrestricted and can sign with any other club. For the Cowboys, those players- all free agents of the “restricted” variety- include:

  • OT Greg Senat
  • WR Malik Turner
  • WR Cedrick Wilson
  • DT Antwaun Woods

Exclusive-rights free agent defensive end Ron’Dell Carter was re-signed by Dallas last week.

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