Chiefs' anti-tampering appeal to regain draft picks denied – USA TODAY
It’s official: The Kansas City Chiefs won’t get back their third-round pick in next week’s NFL draft.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the bulk of the discipline levied on the Chiefs stemming from their free agent signing of wide receiver Jeremy Maclin last year, after hearing the team’s appeal last week. The NFL docked the team for violating the league’s tampering policy.
The Chiefs will also lose a sixth-round pick in next year’s draft, while Goodell reduced two of the fines imposed after the NFL ruled that the team had improper contact with Maclin – who previously played for Chiefs coach Andy Reid in Philadelphia – before the start of the free agency signing period.
The team’s fine was lessened to $200,000 from $250,000 and Reid’s fine was cut to $60,000 from $75,000. General manager John Dorsey’s $25,000 fine was upheld.
“We acknowledge the minor reduction in fines imposed,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said in a statement. “However, we continue to believe that the facts of this case combined with the league’s inconsistent enforcement of its tampering policies do not warrant the most severe penalty for player-related tampering in league history.”
Add the Chiefs to the list of parties disagreeing with a Goodell ruling, but this is hardly Deflategate.
Hunt added, “We are turning the page on this issue and look forward to continuing our preparations for the 2016 season.”
Those preparations still won’t include a third-round pick.
Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.
