Ross Suspended By NFL For Tampering
The NFL suspended Stephen Ross today saying he attempted to tamper with both the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers teams. First Ross never received permission to talk with then Saints Head Coach Sean Payton. The Dolphins failed to notify the Saints that they were discussing Payton becoming Miami’s next coach before he had announced his retirement. Miami also had “Impermissible communications” with Payton in January of this year, according to Payton’s agent. The NFL fined Ross and Dolphins Vice Chairman Bruce Beal for these actions. The league also supspended from participating in any committees until March of next year.
For this and Ross’ consistently trying to lure Tom Brady to the Dolphins from 2019 to this past season, Miami loses a first round pick in next years draft, as well as a third round pick in 2024. The tampering involving Brady goes back to when he was still with the New England Patriots. Ross and Brady are both alumni of Michigan so there is a connection between them. Ross may have tried to use that connection to get Brady to come to Miami, either as its quarterback or as a managing partner of the team. Whatever role Ross wanted for Brady he is still with Tampa Bay, and Ross hurt his team’s ability to improve through the draft over the next two seasons.
How Much Did The NFL Settle In Flores Vs Ross Case?
How much did the league settle in its investigation of tanking allegations against Ross? Brian Flores, the Dolphins former Head Coach said, “I am thankful that the NFL’s investigator found my factual allegations against Stephen Ross are true,” Flores said in a statement today, “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.” He also stated, and the league did as well, that Ross’ asking him to lose games goes to the integrity of the game.
The league viewed Ross’ words differently from Flores. Flores fought, along with the players, to continue to win games. Because Flores and the team continued to try to win the league took Ross words less seriously. Flores wanted the league to hold Ross to a hire standard than saying Ross needs to be more careful with his words. The case between Ross, Flores, and the league continues.
What Dies This Mean For Ross And Dolphins Going Forward?
Ross wants to field a winner in Miami. He impatience clearly is a problem for the team. In the 14 years Ross’ has owned the team Miami, including interims, has had seven coaches. In the teams first 42 years seven men coached the Dolphins. Yes, Don Shula coached Miami for 25 years, but there was a feeling of greater stability with the team before Ross took over as owner.
Ross’ impatience now costs the team a chance to move on from Tua Tagovailoa, should the Dolphins fall short of expectations this year. The easiest path for Miami was to package its two first round draft picks and move up to select a quarterback. Losing one of those picks makes that harder. Ross may want the to make Miami a winner, but he needs to rethink how he goes about doing so between now and October 18, when he comes back from suspension.