Did 49ers tamper with Lance Briggs?

by Nosetackle Supreme on Feb 21, 2008 6:25 PM PST

EDITOR'S NOTE 6:25PM - Thanks to Nosetackle Supreme for spotting this article, as I completely missed it. This is definitely something worth keeping an eye on. I'll poke around and see if I can find any more information on this story. You never want to lose a draft pick or get a reputation as cheaters of any sort. More to follow.

49ers investigated for tampering with Briggs INDIANAPOLIS - The NFL is investigating a charge by the Chicago Bears that the San Francisco 49ers tampered last year by making overtures to linebacker Lance Briggs, three league sources said.

...the Bears' grievance claims that San Francisco held contract talks with agent Drew Rosenhaus during the season, thus interfering with a player under contract.

The 49ers' counter is that they talked to the Bears first about a possible deal, then contacted Rosenhaus and the NFL Management Council about signing Briggs to a new contract. [Due to the franchise designation and not getting a deal done by a July deadline Briggs] was not eligible to sign a new contract with the Bears or any other team, even if he was traded.

San Francisco dropped the idea of trading for Briggs at that point...

If the 49ers are found to have tampered, they could be fined or lose a draft pick.

Seems like losing a draft pick is pretty harsh, but we'll see what the investigation shows. At first glance, it seems pretty innocuous. If they must lose a pick, however, I'd hope it's a day 2 pick. it's not liked they taped the other team's signals or anything...

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Wow

So the Patriots lose a pick for downright cheating and being douches in general, and we might lose a pick for talking to a guy at the wrong time which resulted in nothing anyways?
Way to go, NFL.

Merton Hanks, 'nuff said.

by jtoj on Feb 21, 2008 8:20 PM PST 0 recs

tampering

And it's something that happens a lot anyways...I'd hate to see the 49ers be the team used to "make an example"

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by Fooch on Feb 21, 2008 8:28 PM PST up 0 recs

Maioco's take

This all seems a little strange. It's strange that the 49ers would go ahead and make contact with an agent even though they've been denied permission to speak with him. But it's not as if they have no reason to speak with Rosenhaus, either. The 49ers have a good rapport with Rosenhaus, who also represents Frank Gore, Jason Hill and Moran Norris.

It also seems strange that the Bears would press the issue to the point of complaining to the NFL that the 49ers are cheaters.

Earlier on Thursday, Bears coach Lovie Smith stressed the importance of re-signing the team's free agents, including Briggs, who is reportedly seeking a deal that includes $20 million in guaranteed money.

"He's been an All Pro player for us," Smith said at the NFL scouting combine. "How many teams would like to see an All Pro go somewhere else? My glass is half full, always. I know we've made statements. We realize when you have a player out there like Lance, a lot of teams want him. We're one of them."

The 49ers already have a pretty good inside linebacker, Patrick Willis. For them to pay that kind of money to someone else who plays that position is puzzling.

Is there something I'm missing? Strange, strange, strange.

http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=797835&mode=

Maybe the Bears are just trying to finagle a free draft pick out of the 49ers.

Lott's Prayer: Almost as many words as the Lord's Prayer, but the Lord wouldn't recognize any of them.

by Nosetackle Supreme on Feb 21, 2008 10:43 PM PST 0 recs

pick

Would the pick go to the Bears or just be erased as happened with the Patriots?

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by Fooch on Feb 21, 2008 10:59 PM PST up 0 recs

good question

I don't know.

Lott's Prayer: Almost as many words as the Lord's Prayer, but the Lord wouldn't recognize any of them.

by Nosetackle Supreme on Feb 22, 2008 8:16 AM PST up 0 recs

Sent to the Bears

If the wake of Spygate, the New York Times published an article that compared the league's action against Belichick to punishment in instances of tampering in previous seasons. The article indicated that, in these cases, forfeited draft picks had been shipped to the team that has been tampered with:

Teams have forfeited first-round picks before, sent to other teams as compensation in tampering cases, but no team has ever lost a first-round pick as an outright punishment. No team will receive the draft pick or picks the Patriots will forfeit.

The NFL does not have its anti-tampering policy posted anywhere online, but it appears that even if Goodell finds the Niners guilty, he will have a great deal of discretion as to the appropriate punishment (cash or draft picks). This situation seems similar to the Jets-Pats tiff over Deion Branch in 2006, which resulted in no league action. However, it is possible that Goodell will feel the need to flex disciplinary muscle in light of recent events on Capitol Hill.

There is a decent chance this will blow over, but if the Commish does decide to drop the hammer on San Francisco, it looks like any draft picks taken away will indeed be sent to Chicago.

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by sven406 on Feb 22, 2008 9:43 AM PST up 0 recs

Barrows take

Over at the Sacramento Bee, Matt Barrows threw out some more comments with more to come I'm sure:

I did get a not-for-attribution response from one team official who called the allegation "complete, utter, b.s." except he didn't use the term "b.s."

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by Fooch on Feb 21, 2008 11:02 PM PST 0 recs

= to Jaywalking?

Matt Barrows had a follow-up column that had some interesting language. He referred to tampering as "the jaywalking of the NFL rules."

He makes an excellent point about the fact that huge multi-million dollar deals are done on the first day of free agency and obviously these take time to get done.

If anything comes of this I call BS on the league for trying to make an example of the 49ers.

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by Fooch on Feb 22, 2008 10:49 AM PST 0 recs