Kansas City Chiefs lose draft picks and fined for tampering

The NFL notified the Kansas City Chiefs today that they would lose a third round draft pick in this years draft and a sixth round pick in the 2017 NFL draft for tampering with Jeremy Maclin last offseason. The NFL's alleges that the Chiefs made improper contact with Maclin during the "legal tampering" period before the opening of free agency and the beginning of the 2015 league year. Teams are allowed to exchange numbers and contract parameters with a players representatives during this period but may not have any direct contact with the player nor can any contracts actually be signed. Kansas City also incurred fines including the team being levied $250,000, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid levied $75,000 and Chiefs general manager John Dorsey levied $25,000.

The owner of the Chiefs, Clark Hunt, put out a statement today that included language indicating that the team would appeal the penalties.

Today we were informed by the National Football League that our club will be disciplined for an infraction during the 2015 free agency negotiating period. While we respect Commissioner Goodell and the process, we believe that the penalties proposed in this case are inconsistent with discipline enforced in similar matters - particularly given the league's inconsistent communication of its policies on contact with potential free agents. As an organization, we take great care to conduct ourselves with integrity and operate within the guidelines of the NFL. We have been fully cooperative and transparent with the league in this matter, and we are disappointed with the league's decision. I want to make it clear that I fully support the leadership of both Coach Reid and John Dorsey. We will continue to explore our options under the appeal process.

Also putting out a statement on the matter today was NFL executive VP of football and former Miami Dolphin, Troy Vincent. In the statement, Vincent stated that the Kansas City Chiefs clearly violated the league's rule on tampering. He also stated that the penalty would have been much more severe had the team not cooperated completely with the NFL's investigation.