Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay issued a warning to other NFL teams about possible tampering involving former quarterback Andrew Luck after a report over the weekend revealed the Washington Commanders had reached out last season before trading Carson Wentz.
Irsay took to Twitter on Sunday to issue a blanket statement warning any team not to contact Luck about a possible Return of the NFL.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay watches the Steelers’ pregame warmups at Heinz Field on October 26, 2014, in Pittsburgh. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
«If any NFL team were to attempt to contact Andrew Luck (or any associate of his)… about playing for their franchise, it would be a clear violation of the league’s tampering policy,» his tweet read.
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Luck, 33, retired in 2019 after seven years in the league, all with the Colts. The surprise announcement came just before the start of the season and with three years remaining on Luck’s contract.
However, Irsay’s tweet was apparently directed at an ESPN report on the Commanders‘ commitment this season to second-year signal caller Sam Howell.
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Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell drops back to pass against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on January 8, 2023, in Landover, Maryland. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
In the report, John Keim writes: «Still, they didn’t feel the same urgency they felt last offseason, when they called up every team that might have an available quarterback. They even called out retired Andrew Luck, just in case.» … ultimately traded two third-round picks to Indianapolis for Carson Wentz and his $28 million salary cap.»
Due to Luck’s contract and the timing of his retirement, any team that wants to have a conversation with him about a potential return would have to go through the Colts, but Irsay apparently wasn’t aware of any conversations last season.
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ESPN reported separately that a source within the Colts organization said the team is unclear on the nature of the talks, but is investigating whether there was any manipulation.
Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts runs the ball against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Nashville. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
In August, Stephen Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins was suspended by the league and discounted two draft picks following the NFL’s lengthy investigation into allegations of manipulation from 2019-2022 that involved inappropriate conversations with Tom Brady and Sean Payton and allegations that former head coach Brian Flores received instructions of intentionally losing games.
Ross was also ordered to pay a $1.5 million fine as a result of the NFL’s investigation.