HAROLD LEWIS ADMITS THAT RAMS TAMPERED

In article confirming (as first reported by PFT at the SportingNews.com safe haven site on Friday) that Bengals tackle Stacy Andrews has agreed to terms with the Eagles, Ray Parrillo of the Philadelphia Inquirer unwittingly has obtained an admission from agent Harold Lewis that one or more teams -- including the Rams -- had contacted him to express interest in center/guard Jason Brown before the free-agency period officially opened.

Addressing the inability of the Eagles to get in on the bidding for Brown, Lewis said:  "The Eagles showed some really strong interest in Jason, but we had no inkling until midnight passed.  Who knows?  Maybe if they'd have called first, they'd have had the first chance to talk.  Jason is not the kind of guy who wants to take a tour."

Maybe the real news here is that an NFL team actually waited until midnight passed to express interest in a free agent.  Given that no one else does this, the Eagles' decision to act honorably necessarily put them at a competitive disadvantage.

And that gives me an idea that likely will be ignored but that I nevertheless need to express.  Under the NFL's current Anti-Tampering Policy, only the team who held the player's rights can make a claim of tampering.  But why shouldn't, in a case like this, a team that had a legitimate interest in a free agent and that waited until the clock struck 12 to inquire be able to file a complaint that another team actually landed the player because the other team cheated?

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17 Comments

output said:

whooooooopty doo

Big Dog said:

Actually, Adam Schefter's blog is the place to get all of the latest news, rumors, and analysis regarding the launch of the NFL's annual free-agent shopping spree.

You just copy and paste from him, and you certainly don't provide "analysis."

J said:

Eh, I'm an Eagles fan but like they haven't tampered before? Jevon Kearse and Asante Samuel were more or less 12:01 signings.

Vox Veritas said:

Wow, good thing the Eagirls are the only honest team in the NFL hahahahahahahahahaha

Get real, Florio. Why don't you report on why Brian Dawkins just took a big shit on the Eagirls?

Alex said:

Hey Vox, why don't you get your facts straight before you make it clear how much of an idiot, know-nothing you are. Dawkins hasn't signed to or agreed to a thing yet.

jimmy dean said:

why not just implement a negotiation period between the start of free agency and after the contracts of the players expire? then they're be no need for tampering and all the teams would be on a level playing field

smush rodrigez said:

Florio, your servers are like the Cowboys of the last 10 years. We keep being told that they are better, but then they get worse. Your servers did not show up on the biggest day just as the Cwboys did not show up when a playoff berth was at stake. 44-6. Hopefully, your server does not faint in the shower.

J said:

jimmy dean - because everyone would just start negotiating (tampering) before the negotiating period started.

Da guy who bangs ya mama said:

Bring on the extra Draft picks!! Ty Rams for providing the Ravens with extra talent!

Vox Veritas said:

Florio, your servers are like the Eagirls since Eisenhower was president. Cheaply made and poorly maintained.

Vox Veritas said:

Cap champs once again!

http://allthingsphillysports.blogspot.com/2009/02/dawkins-to-broncos-appears-done.html

Bad news, Eagles fans. The signing that was off and on and back off again appears to be pretty much official: Brian Dawkins is going to sign with the Broncos. Barring some 11th hour offer, the Eagles are going to lose their defensive leader.

The shocking part about Dawkins leaving is the fact that the Eagles sit some 40 million dollars under the cap.

Vox Veritas said:

Hey guys I hear Vince Papale is looking for a job. Maybe he's within the Eagirls price range.

hahaha

Vox Veritas said:

OK I admit it guys, I am a total fricken IDIOT. Really. I know so little about stuff that I just write whatever I hear from other people like Coco, and the other PFT twits. I'm a total loser.

smush rodrigez said:

Dawkins was an overrated piece of shit anyway. We're better off without him. anybody remember him getting turned inside out all last year? Yay go eagles!

EagleHater said:

I'm just a typical eagle hating scumbag. I bring nothing to the table and none of my jokes are original it funny. Hopefully someone else shows up to piggyback my corny ass shit so I can continue embarrasing myself. Eagirls! LOLCANO! That is so funny... Hahahahaha

dolfan said:

What a ham 'n' egger website. It seems that profootballtalk goes down on the busiest days when people want information. I'll stick to the NFL network!

F00kFl0ri0 said:

Once again Florio is crying about tampering, I can't wait until he does his Anti-Rooney stchick...... Somethings never change....

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