KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Chiefs' appeal of the NFL's anti-tampering charges was denied by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, which means they will not get back the third-round choice they lost in this year's draft or the sixth-round pick they will lose in the 2017 draft.
The team's fine was reduced from $250,000 to $200,000, and coach Andy Reid's fine was reduced from $75,000 to $60,000. However, other parts of the penalty, including a $25,000 fine to general manager John Dorsey, remain intact.
"We appreciate the opportunity to make our appeal on this matter, and we acknowledge the minor reduction in fines imposed," team chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "However, we continue to believe that the facts of this case combined with the league's inconsistent enforcement of its tampering policies do not warrant the most severe penalty for player-related tampering in league history."
The NFL says the Chiefs last year contacted wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, then a prospective free agent, during a time when they were not allowed to do so under NFL rules. Maclin, who eventually signed with the Chiefs, was still under contract at the time to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Chiefs never denied they contacted Maclin at a time when they were not allowed to do so.
"We have to take responsibility for what we do,'' Maclin said.