Tsk Tsk: 49ers lose draft pick over tampering

The NFL rules on tampering can be kind of vague, but it's one of those things that is almost like the NCAA rules of recruiting: there are certain time frames when teams can talk to players about their free agency, and even spells out the methods of contact they can do at a given time. Unfortunately, though, sometimes tampering, much like the NCAA rules, are not necessarily hard to enforce, but hard to prove.

However, in the case of the San Francisco 49ers contact with Lance Briggs, it was very clear to the NFL--this was a violation. The Niners had apparently contacted the Chicago Bears linebacker during the 2007 season, a clear cut no-no for tampering, and the result is that the 49ers are losing a fifth-round draft pick. Not exactly a huge sentence for their wrongdoing, but not a slap on the wrist either. To add insult to injury, Briggs didn't sign with San Fran--he ended up staying in Chicago (*snicker*).

Perhaps the big picture view is that things like this--just maybe--need to be given a little more of a penalty than a mid-round draft pick. With all of the clamoring with Roger Goodell and the New England Patriots "tapegate", the NFL should be showing more of a hard-line approach in dealing with teams and going against the rules, and perhaps even more alertness to things going wrong and holding teams accountable. And for all of you mischievous teams out there-STOP--you are ruining the credibility of the NFL, no matter how big or how small the offense.

Picture Source: Getty Images

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