Was the period of legal tampering a period of illegal tampering?
The Eagles have denied that they had inappropriate contact with Saquon Barkley before agreeing to terms on a contract with the two-time Pro Bowl team, according to Story by ESPN's Tim McManus.
NFL rules prohibit teams from having direct contact with players (except those without agents) during the legal tampering period, which ran from noon on Monday until 4pm on Wednesday.
All communications during that period must be made through an agent.
In an interview during Penn State's spring media day on Tuesday — just before Wednesday's 4 p.m. — coach James Franklin obliquely alluded to the direct connection Eagles GM Howie Roseman had with Barkley when he recruited him:
“For him to come back now and be able to play in-state in Philadelphia, he said that was one of the first things Hoey said to him on the phone as part of his sales pitch to him, so it was not just the Philadelphia Eagles and that but obviously the connection with Penn State and the fan bases as well.” .
If this conversation actually happened, the communication would be impermissible and potentially manipulative. If the NFL rules that the Eagles traded Barkley while he was still under contract with the Giants and before free agency begins, they could be stripped of their draft picks, fined, or both.
But the Eagles said all communication between the franchise and Barkley — and with all free agents — was with the agent, which is allowed during the 52-hour legal tampering period.
The Giants have not contacted the league regarding Franklin's comments, ESPN reported.
After six seasons with the Giants, Barkley signed a three-year, $37.5 million contract with an $11.625 million signing bonus and $26 million guaranteed.
Barkley, a native of Whitehall, Pa., outside Allentown, made Pro Bowls following the 2018 and 2022 seasons. Since entering the league in 2018, Barkley has averaged 99 receiving yards per game, which trails only Christian McCaffrey (126), Derrick Henry (107), Jonathan Taylor (105), and Alvin Kamara (100) among the 61 players. A full-back with at least 500 players. Touches.
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