Dolphins tampered with Tom Brady while he was with Patriots, docked 1st and 3rd round picks for ‘unprecedented’ violations

FOXBOROUGH — The NFL slammed the Dolphins with sanctions on Tuesday, docking them first and third round picks and fining a pair of executives $2 million for “tampering violations of unprecedented scope and severity.”

They centered around Tom Brady, including when the quarterback was still with the Patriots in August of 2019, and again when he was a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. The league found that “numerous and detailed discussions” were conducted by Dolphins’ Vice Chairman Bruce Beal, who relayed the conversations to owner Stephen Ross throughout Brady’s final season in New England.

“The Dolphins had impermissible communications with quarterback Tom Brady in 2019-20, while he was under contract to the New England Patriots,” the NFL wrote. “Those communications began as early as August 2019 and continued throughout the 2019 season and post-season.”

The NFL found Miami also tampered with Sean Payton while he was under contract with the Saints.

“The investigators found tampering violations of unprecedented scope and severity,” Roger Goodell said. “I know of no prior instance of a team violating the prohibition on tampering with both a head coach and star player, to the potential detriment of multiple other clubs, over a period of years.”

Ross was fined $1.5 million and is suspended until October 17, 2022, while Beal was fined $500,000. The picks forfeited are Miami’s first-rounder in 2023 and third-rounder in 2024.

Related content:

Dolphins hit with harder penalties than Patriots Spygate punishment after Tom Brady tampering investigation

11 Patriots takeaways from first padded practice: DeVante Parker outmuscles CBs, but Mac Jones and offense still disjointed

Jake Bailey excited to stay with Patriots following contract extension: ‘This town is awesome’

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.