NEW YORK -- The San Francisco 49ers have forfeited their fifth-round pick in next month's NFL draft after commissioner Roger Goodell deemed them guilty of tampering with Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs. Goodell also determined the teams will switch picks in the third round of the April 26-27 draft. Chicago, which had the 12th pick, will get San Francisco's seventh pick and the 49ers will get Chicago's choice. Goodell determined that the 49ers violated the NFL's anti-tampering policy by contacting Briggs' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, about his client during the 2007 season. Briggs, an all-Pro in 2007, had been designated as Chicago's franchise player, signing a one-year tender that meant he could not leave the Bears. He had been expected to leave as a free agent after last season but instead re-signed with Chicago for $36 million over six years. Briggs will earn $21.6 million in the first three years of the deal and $13 million of the contract is guaranteed. There had been reports of contact between the 49ers and Rosenhaus last season, and the Bears filed a tampering charge with the NFL. Goodell said both teams cooperated with his investigation into the allegations. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3310056 certainly not much of a penalty. I guess everybody will tamper now.
I believe that is actually the first ever confirmed and punished action under the tampering rule. Good job, Niners.
*looks at my sig* Does Backflips. :up: But seriously, this is a ruling I dont get....The loss of a draft pick works and a 4th-5th is perfectly fine because Briggs eventually signed back with CHI but a swap of 3rd picks? Seems a bit silly there.
Personally, I think the penalty is a joke. It won't stop anybody from tampering in the future. Think about it, would you rather have Briggs or a 5th round pick? They didn't pull it off but not for a lack of trying.
Teams would still have to pay top dollar for the guy and most of the time, the team who loses a FA gets a 3rd round pick for compensation.
It's a heavy penalty considering that tampering to some degree seems to happen with just about every single free agent and is usually not blatant enough to warrant actual punishment.
I think the penalty should be the same as the value of the player you are tampering with. In this case it would be at least a 2nd, and maybe even a 1st. Remember, Chicago isn't getting that 5th they forfeited. They get nothing but the swap of 3rd rounders which in this case is a nit.
I wonder what it feels like to be Goodell? Just taking picks and swapping them around. What power that is.
This is so ridiculous. Swapping 3rd round WTF its like 5 spots. I mean i know roger goodell is trying to make his presence known but i think he has taken it to far. This happens every single FA but they take action on this one??
Why does Chicago get something when the 9ers cheat on them and we don?t get anything when the Pats cheat on us?
i think the pats did it to everyone but just we caught him. Now id rather have the pats lose a first then have them give us a 5th
I agree, that does not seem fair at all. The Bears didn't even actually lose the player either, as they resigned Briggs.
