The NFL is reviewing whether the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles violated tampering policies during the legal tampering window, a league spokesman said Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Falcons agreed to a contract with four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins shortly after teams were permitted to start negotiating with unrestricted free agents on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Eagles quickly struck a deal with two-time Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley soon after the negotiation period opened at 12 p.m. EDT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Penn State coach James Franklin told a reporter that Eagles general manager Howie Roseman spoke to Barkley and pitched him on the connection between the Eagles and Nittany Lions fan bases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teams are permitted to talk directly with agents during the 52-hour negotiating window, but can\u2019t speak to the player unless he has no agent and represents himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Eagles have denied the claims and Barkley said Franklin misinterpreted their conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat was through my agent and my agent told me that,\u201d Barkley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Atlanta\u2019s case, Cousins said Wednesday: \u201cThere\u2019s great people here. And it\u2019s not just the football team. I mean, I\u2019m looking at the support staff. Meeting \u2014 calling, yesterday, calling our head athletic trainer, talking to our head of PR I\u2019m thinking, we got good people here. And that\u2019s exciting to be a part of.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cousins wasn\u2019t permitted to speak to anyone before 4 p.m. EDT on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDue to the NFL\u2019s review, we are unable to provide information or have additional comment,\u201d the Falcons said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was asked if he\u2019s had any communication with the league on the tampering investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s kind of above our fray there,\u201d Adofo-Mensah said Thursday. \u201cI\u2019ve just been busy trying to work on the roster. I\u2019m not aware of any of that stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vikings coach Kevin O\u2019Connell suggested last week in an interview with NFL Network that the market for Cousins grew at the league\u2019s scouting combine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think the combine just kind of gave everybody else an opportunity \u2014 even whether they\u2019re supposed to be or not \u2014 to maybe have some conversations,\u201d O\u2019Connell said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n