Lions punished over tampering charge

By foxsports
Published

Following a review and hearing, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has ruled Friday that the Detroit Lions have violated the NFL Anti-Tampering Policy by telling the media about the Lions’ desire to acquire players then under contract to the Kansas City Chiefs and by having impermissible contact with a player (or his agent) under contract to the Chiefs in 2010.

As first reported by FOXSports.com, the Chiefs brought tampering charges against the Lions for comments made by defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham last year.

As a result of the Goodell's ruling:

• Detroit will forfeit its seventh-round pick (acquired from the Denver Broncos) in the 2011 draft.

• Kansas City and Detroit will switch fifth-round picks in 2011 too. As a result, Kansas City now will have the ninth selection of the round and Detroit the 23rd selection.

Either club may appeal by Feb. 28.