49ers Guilty of Tampering

[SteelerFan448]

No link yet, ESPN just reported the 49ers tampered with Lance Briggs. They will have to forfeit their 5th round pick and swap 3rd round picks with the bears.

[Big Fella]

That'll show 'em!

I dont mean to downplay the importance of second day picks but that punishment seems somewhat arbitrary.

[Hollywood Bags]

All the midnight signings the first minutes of the opening of free agent day and they nail a team that didn't sign a player.

[motownsteeler]

and still the patriots get a slap on the wrist!

[t-bone]

and the 9ers pick.

[Supersteeler]

Sho 'nuff

Niners forfeit fifth-round draft pick after tampering with Bears' Briggs

Associated Press

Updated: March 24, 2008, 7:14 PM ET


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.
The 49ers organization respects Commissioner Goodell's ruling today, however we do disagree with it. This was not a malicious act; we believe that our intent was within the NFL guidelines.

--49ers GM Scot McCloughan, in a statement

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.

"The 49ers organization respects Commissioner Goodell's ruling today, however we do disagree with it," 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said in a statement. "This was not a malicious act; we believe that our intent was within the NFL guidelines. Going forward, we will take the necessary steps to ensure we are in compliance with the NFL's interpretation."

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.

"We are appreciative of the efforts of the league office on this matter and support the commissioner's decision," Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips said in a statement.

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.

[Steel Conviction]

Seems to me its more profitable to cheat than tamper.

[Vader]

They should have traded and shuffled their picks around so that the league couldn't take them away.

[Sean]

How long until the Jets are found guilty of tampering with the Alan Faneca situation?

[Ghost of Frenchy Fuqua]

Can your avatar be tampered with?

[cpollock]

"we believe that our intent was within the NFL guidelines"

Seems like everyone is getting in to the act ..isn't this the mantra of the *Pats

[LetMePlay]

Drew Rosenhaus

I shocked that his name would up in a cheating scandal.

[BermudaSteel]

Seems to me its more profitable to cheat than tamper.

Confucius speak only truth!