FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons front office has addressed the tampering penalties assessed to the team by the NFL after the signing of quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Falcons assistant general manager Kyle Smith spoke with reporters Sunday morning, a month and a half after Atlanta lost a 2025 fifth-round pick and paid a $250,000 fine for tampering with Cousins, receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Charlie Woerner in free agency.
“You open your doors to the deal and the process,” Smith said. “Like anything, whether it’s involving us or another team, you always look at all those deals and you look at your process from within and things you have to do to adjust and move forward. So, we’ll move forward.”
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot was additionally fined $50,000 for his role in the violation.
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After a thorough, three-month-long process, the NFL found Atlanta broke the league’s rules regarding logistical and administrative contact, such as making travel plans after deals were agreed upon.
Conversely, the league didn’t find the Falcons made contact with players before the legal negotiating window opened. From the start of the process to the end, Atlanta stressed it cooperated fully with the NFL’s investigation.
Smith said the Falcons are using the penalties as a learning opportunity.
“I won’t go too far into the weeds as to what happened in the investigation,” Smith said. “But whenever that ruling comes for us, or it could be for another team, you always look at the processes of those things, and you adjust and adapt in terms of what you’re going to do moving forward, which we will do.”
Falcons owner Arthur Blank will speak with reporters Tuesday and general manager Terry Fontenot will take the podium Wednesday, marking the first time each are available following the league’s decision.
The group stage of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is nearly over, but not before the Democratic Republic of the Congo takes on Uzbekistan at Atlanta Stadium.
For DR Congo, this last match is extremely important. The team remains in contention for a spot in the knockout round with its one point. Uzbekistan has an extremely slim change of getting to the round of 32 following its loss to Portugal earlier this week, but a massive win could change all that.
This is the second time DR Congo has competed in the World Cup since 1974, when it was called Zaire. The team qualified after winning a playoff tournament in Mexico.
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How to watch DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan
Date: Saturday, June 26
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
TV (English): FS1
TV (Spanish): Peacock (Telemundo/Universo)
Streaming: Universo, FOX One, FOX Sports app and website
FIFA Fan Festival Atlanta
What: FIFA Fan Festival™ Atlanta
Where: Centennial Olympic Park
Time: 2 p.m. to Midnight
The free general admission tickets for Saturday have sold out, but guests can purchase tickets to the festival on its website.
The San Francisco Giants welcome the Atlanta Braves to Oracle Park tonight to begin a three-game series.
As of the time this is being written, the Giants have not yet announced a starting pitcher. I assume that means that the last resort left for this season is the element of surprise. But check the comments below for more up to date information.
Whoever it ends up being will face off against Braves right-hander Reynaldo López, who enters tonight’s game with a 3.50 ERA, 4.62 FIP, with 39 strikeouts to 21 walks in 43.2 innings pitched. His last appearance was in relief in the Braves’ 9-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, in which he allowed one unearned run on one hit with three strikeouts and a walk in three innings.
Who: San Francisco Giants (33-47) vs. Atlanta Braves (48-31)
