Broncos seem to be nervous about a potential Drew Brees tampering case
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The Denver Broncos reportedly discussed the possibility of quarterback Drew Brees unretiring to join the team for the AFC Championship, despite Brees being on the New Orleans Saints' reserve-retired list, which made such a move impermissible.
- Former Broncos coaches Joe Lombardi and Pete Carmichael were involved in conversations with Brees about a potential return, with conflicting accounts on who initiated contact, as Broncos coach Sean Payton stated Brees reached out first.
- The situation raises potential tampering concerns since Brees is technically under contract with the Saints, and the NFL can investigate or penalize teams for tampering even without a formal complaint from the affected team.
- Payton’s comments suggest the Broncos are trying to frame the interaction as initiated by Brees to avoid league scrutiny, reflecting concern about possible disciplinary action similar to past NFL tampering cases.
- The NFL's response remains uncertain, but the incident highlights the complexities of player status and team communications during critical playoff periods.
