The NFL’s wacky and sometimes utterly absurd free agency period took an interesting turn on Wednesday. It didn’t come in the form of an odd signing or a team throwing a ton of cash to an overrated free agent. Though, those two things did happen as well.
Instead, it came in the form of the NFL docking the Kansas City Chiefs two draft picks for violating the league’s anti-tampering rules when they negotiated a deal with then Philadelphia Eagles free agent Jeremy Maclin last March:
Whoa, NFL whacks Chiefs for violating the anti-tampering rules last year re; Maclin. Lose 3rd round pick this year, 6th rounder in '17.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 9, 2016
A third-round pick this year and sixth rounder in 2017 is a mighty high price to pay for violating a rule that seems to be a bit ridiculous in its own right.
This week, teams had the ability to negotiate the parameters of contracts with the agents of exterior free agents. That two-day span, taking place Monday and Tuesday, is called the “legal tampering period.”
Then on Wednesday, teams were able to officially sign free agents.
What makes this rather ridiculous is the fact that hard numbers were reported on contracts agreed to by impending free agents over the past two days. If sides can only negotiate the parameters of a deal, how in the world were these hard numbers leaked?
For their part, the Chiefs should have known where the line was drawn in the sand. They apparently contacted Maclin during the legal tampering period last March. That’s a no-no, as teams are only able to negotiate with agents prior to the official start of free agency.
Here’s a full press release by the NFL announcing its decision.
In turn, Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt released a statement disagreeing with the league’s action:
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.”
As it is, Kansas City will now be without an extremely valuable mid-round pick in April’s draft. That’s the price you pay for doing business in a NFL that seems to be setting its own boundaries midstream.
Then again, this could be streamlined in arbitration as the Chiefs look to recoup the picks the NFL stripped from them on Wednesday.
Welcome to the drama-filled world of professional football, ladies and gents.