Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles: Dolphins tampering with Tom Brady 'has nothing to do with us'

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles was promoted to the role of head coach after Bruce Arians stepped down earlier this spring. Bowles likely didn't imagine at that time he'd have to comment on the Miami Dolphins being forced to forfeit a pair of draft picks for violating tampering rules regarding quarterback Tom Brady and former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. 

As Myles Simmons noted for Pro Football Talk, an NFL investigation found, among other things, that the Dolphins "had impermissible communications with both Mr. Brady and his agent during and after the 2021 season, while he was under contract to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers." Brady is atop Tampa Bay's depth chart this summer following a short-lived winter retirement, so Bowles understandably was asked for a reaction to the tampering punishment. 

"The league took care of it. It has nothing to do with us," Bowles remarked during his Wednesday press conference. "We try to keep outside noise to a minimum. And there’s nothing to be said on that front because I really don’t know anything about it." 

Brady can become an unrestricted free agent following the upcoming season but could also shift into his future role as the lead NFL analyst for Fox Sports as soon as some point this winter if he wishes. For now, it seems as if the G.O.A.T. will never take a meaningful snap as a member of the Dolphins.