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The Washington Commanders may find themselves in trouble after a recent report revealed that they had reached out to retired former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck during the 2022 offseason.
The news was brought to light by ESPN reporter John Keim, who disclosed that the Commanders had contacted several teams in their search for a quarterback, including inquiring about the possibility of Luck coming out of retirement.
The report raised eyebrows and led to a response from Colts owner Jim Irsay. Taking to Twitter, Irsay stated, “If any NFL Team attempted to contact Andrew Luck (or any associate of him)… to play for their Franchise – it would be a clear Violation of the League’s Tampering Policy.” Irsay’s tweet strongly implies that the Commanders did not seek permission from the Colts before reaching out to Luck.
If any NFL Team,attempted to contact Andrew Luck (or any associate of him)… to play for their Franchise – it would be a clear Violation of the League’s Tampering Policy.
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) May 8, 2023
If the Commanders did indeed explore the possibility of luring Luck out of retirement, they may have directly contacted Luck, his agents, or potentially someone associated with him, such as his father, Oliver Luck, a former NFL quarterback himself.
Because Irsay’s response suggests that he believes the Commanders acted improperly and violated the league’s tampering policy by attempting to contact Luck without going through the Colts organization, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. But Irsay’s statement indicates that he may be considering legal action to address the matter.
The potential consequences for the Commanders could be significant. Violating the NFL’s tampering policy can result in penalties, including fines, loss of draft picks, or even restrictions on future player signings.
We’ll have to wait and see if the NFL investigates the matter. The Commanders may find themselves embroiled in a controversy that could have repercussions for the team’s future, while Andrew Luck’s name resurfaces in the media despite his retirement, generating discussions and debates about what might have been if he had returned to the game.