According to the NFL, the Miami Dolphins and club owner Stephen Ross are Guilty for contacting Tom Brady while he was under contract with another organization and for advising that the team lose games to better its draft position throughout the 2019 season.
The NFL will suspend Ross until the payment of a $1.5 million fine on October 17, the day after the Dolphins play their sixth game of the upcoming season.
Ross was also permanently barred from serving on any league committees and from attending any league meetings until the following year.
Stephen Ross has released a statement in reaction to the above allegations and penalties. Read below:
“THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION CLEARED OUR ORGANIZATION ON ANY ISSUES RELATED TO TANKING AND ALL OF BRIAN FLORES OTHER ALLEGATIONS.”
“AS I HAVE SAID ALL ALONG, THESE ALLEGATIONS WERE FALSE, MALICIOUS AND DEFAMATORY, AND THIS ISSUE IS NOW PUT TO REST.”
“WITH REGARDS TO TAMPERING, I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE CONCLUSIONS AND THE PUNISHMENT.”
“HOWEVER, I WILL ACCEPT THE OUTCOME BECAUSE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THERE BE NO DISTRACTIONS FOR OUR TEAM AS WE BEGIN AN EXCITING AND WINNING SEASON. I WILL NOT ALLOW
ANYTHING TO GET IN THE WAY OF THAT.”
