The Kansas Chiefs will lose two draft picks for their actions leading up to the start of the league year in 2015.
Citing improper contact with wide receiver Jeremy Maclin prior to the start of free agency last March, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent informed the Chiefs on Wednesday that they will forfeit their 2016 third-round draft pick and 2017 sixth-round draft pick for violating the league's Anti-Tampering Policy.
In addition to the loss of draft picks, coach Andy Reid has been fined $75,000 and general manager John Dorsey has been fined $25,000.
Maclin played under Reid in Philadelphia before signing a five-year, $55 million deal with the Chiefs on March 11 of 2015.
In a statement released by the NFL, Vincent explained that in "assessing discipline, the goal is to balance the seriousness of the violation of an important and longstanding competitive rule, with appropriate recognition of the club's history (no prior offenses), and the cooperation shown by both the club and individual employees."
Vincent further acknowledged the discipline would have been more harsh had the Chiefs not been "fully cooperative and forthcoming" in the investigation.
While the NFL allows communication between teams and agents during its "legal tampering" period, prospective suitors cannot contact free agents themselves prior to the start of the league year.
Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt released a statement suggesting the organization will appeal the discipline.
"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."
