I’ll admit, I’m trying to spin this into somehow being Penn State’s fault and not even I can come up with a good reason. How’s James Franklin supposed to know NFL tampering rules?  According to a Sports Illustrated article for the Penn State vertical, Franklin told a reporter Howie had contact with Saquon directly during the legal tampering period:

Penn State coach James Franklin chatted with Saquon Barkley on Monday night after Barkley agreed to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles, a blockbuster deal for that Venn Diagram of football fans in Pennsylvania. Interestingly, Barkley told Franklin that Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman made Penn State and homecoming part of his presentation to the former New York Giants running back.

“He said that was one of the first things that Howie said to him on the phone as part of his sales pitch,” Franklin said Tuesday. “Not only the Philadelphia Eagles and that that but also the connection with Penn State and the fan base as well. So just a really cool opportunity.”

NFL rules say you’re only allowed to have contact with the player’s agent during that time.

The Eagles are denying it through a team spokesman via Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk.com, who broke this story wide open:

Through a team spokesman, the Eagles told PFT that all player recruiting is facilitated through the player’s agent.

Fucking Florio, man. No one would’ve known this happened if he didn’t open his big mouth. You just know he was smiling ear to ear after discovering this. He’s got the weirdest relationship with Howie. Every time they meet it’s like a cross examination and not an interview and every time I watch an interview of them two I can’t wait until it’s over:

What a rat. A weasel. A corpse-like shill. The Cuz has him pegged perfectly:

Him and Sal Pal should put their Kenesaw Mountain Landis pants on and start their own forensic investigation firm.

But if it turns out Howie is cheating I couldn’t be happier. We all know every team tampers. At least the teams at the forefront. If you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying. You think the Falcons were paying Kirk Cousins $180 million before getting his medicals? Arthur Blank doesn’t care about HIPAA. He’s getting those knee scans by any means possible. Andy Reid got popped for tampering in 2016 when they signed Jeremy Maclin.

The Eagles better not have to send a pick to the Giants or something. If they broke a rule fine, take away a pick. But they shouldn’t have to send one to a team that was never going to offer him a contract.

Kinkead: Florio is a rat, a disgrace to WVU law and the great city of Wheeling 

 

UPDATE: Mike Florio’s Tattletale Tour continues. Get your tickets now!