Detroit Lions lose seventh round NFL draft pick after tampering charges
The National Football League (NFL) has taken away a seventh round draft pick from the Detroit Lions because of a tampering case filed against the team by the Kansas City Chiefs. Very few details about the accusations have been made public however, it is
clear that the NFL has ruled in favour of the Chiefs.
There are unconfirmed reports that Lions defensive coordinator, Gunther Cunningham, might be at the centre of the controversy. Cunningham had been with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2004 to 2008 before he took up the same position with the Lions. He is well
acquainted with the players on the Chiefs’ roster.
Almost a year ago Cunningham expressed his interest in acquiring players from Kansas City. He said, “(Kansas City) keeps wanting to dump their players. I would like to be there to catch a lot of them because I know a couple of those guys.”
The Chiefs have since filed tampering charges against the Lions. Tampering is defined by the NFL as any interference with the employer-employee relationship of a club by another. It also covers attempts to improperly induce an employee to seek employment
with a different club. Those charges ultimately led to the Lions being found guilty of ‘impermissible contact with a player (or his agent) under contract to the Chiefs.’
The player in question is rumoured to be former Chiefs safety Jarrad Page who was traded to the New England Patriots. Page was a restricted free agent last year and was engaged in a contract holdout before being traded. The NFL though has made it clear that
the ruling didn’t solely result from Cunningham’s comments.
The ruling can be appealed by both teams. The Lions haven’t come forward with a comment on the ruling and are unlikely to appeal the ruling. The league’s decision will cost Detroit a fifth and seventh round draft pick. The Lions originally had the ninth pick
of the fifth round and the Chiefs got to pick 23rd. Those picks will be swapped and the Lions will have to wait for the 23rd pick.
The Lions will also forfeit their seventh round pick as per the NFL ruling. The NFL announced its ruling after nearly six months of deliberation. It is unlikely that the player in question will admit such contact, but in all likelihood the NFL found a trail
between someone from the Lions and the Chiefs.
The Lions could have lost a lot more than 14 positions in the fifth round and a seventh round pick. They had the 30th pick in the seventh round, needless to say that the Lions will be fine without it. They are unlikely to appeal the decision.
The Chiefs won’t benefit much from the draft either. They had draft picks from the first to the fifth and in the seventh round already. They got a fifth round pick in a trade with Tampa Bay and now the ninth pick from the Lions.
Tags: