Amid tampering scandal, Miami Dolphins lose first-round pick, owner suspended and fined $1.5 million

The National Football League has issued a strict set of penalties against the Miami Dolphins amid a tampering scandal, docking the team two coveted draft pick slots and suspending its owner while fining him a seven-figure penalty. 

The NFL said in a press release that, though the team had not intentionally lost games as had been alleged, it had violated the league's tampering rules "on three separate occasions," specifically regarding "impermissible communications" with quarterback Tom Brady and Don Yee, the agent for the New Orleans Saints' head coach Sean Payton. 

As a result, the Dolphins "will forfeit the club's first-round selection in the 2023 NFL draft and third-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft," while team owner Stephen Ross " is suspended through October 17, 2022" and will be fined $1.5 million. 

Additionally, Ross "may not attend any League meeting prior to the Annual Meeting in 2023" and "is removed from all League committees indefinitely," the league continued. 

As well, Dolphins Vice Chairman Bruce Beal "may not attend any League meeting for the remainder of the 2022 season and is fined $500,000," the league said.