The compensation—or lack thereof—provided to the tampering victims has been one of the most significant issues to emerge following the league's determination that the Dolphins flagrantly interfered with Sean Payton and Tom Brady.

The offended club (as defined in the regulation) is entitled to compensation under the tampering policy if it certifies a complaint that starts an inquiry into the offending club.

The policy further stipulates that the offended club may not be eligible to collect any possible award of compensation if it declines or otherwise fails to certify such a complaint after becoming aware of the facts of the situation or after becoming aware of those facts with reasonable certainty.

This phrasing shows that inquiry didn't take place as a result of a complaint or certification filed by any of those clubs, along with the lack of compensation for the Patriots (as to Brady), and Buccaneers (as to Brady), 

Saints (as to Payton). It's conceivable, if not likely, that the probe was brought on by the Brian Flores lawsuit's mention of an alleged team attempt to interfere with an unknown quarterback in 2019. PFT requested an explanation from the NFL earlier this week regarding the Patriots, Buccaneers, and Saints' lack of pay for the Miami tampering. The league did not comment.

A tampering complaint was not certified by either of the three teams for several valid reasons. The Patriots were aware that Brady had an advantage in the 2020 free agent market. Undoubtedly, the Patriots didn't mind. Technical infractions of the rules were of little concern if they weren't going to keep him (which they knew they weren't).

 The Patriots may have preferred to have a cordial parting with Brady over picking a fight with a division rival,

 even if it were a fight, they would have won, even though it is unknown whether they were aware that the Dolphins were speaking to Brady before the 2019 season ended or whether they would have objected if they had.

It would have been the height of hypocrisy on the part of the Buccaneers to have criticised the Dolphins for tampering with Brady in 2021 or 2022. The Buccaneers had done the same in 2020.

Additionally, the fact that had finished the complete Payton/Brady package to Miami had been finalized (only to be abandoned due to the Brian Flores case) indicates that someone with the Buccaneers was aware of what would happen and had also consented to Brady's future remuneration.

Payton's move to Miami was finalized concerning the Saints and had made a compensation arrangement behind closed doors. It just so happened that higher-level negotiations were taking place at the time Miami general manager Chris Grier decided to phone Saints assistant general manager Jeff Ireland about Payton. The Saints' willingness to assist in lining up Miami's attempt to hire Payton made it harder for them to complain about tampering.