Lions Tampering Charge Stems From 'Impermissible Contact' With Chiefs Player

by Sean Yuille on Feb 18, 2011 3:20 PM EST in Detroit Lions News

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's decision to rule the Detroit Lions guilty of tampering was based on more than some comments Gunther Cunningham made about wanting to sign players the Kansas City Chiefs dump. According to the NFL's statement on the matter, the Lions were guilty of tampering partly because of Cunningham's comments and partly because they had "impermissible contact with a player (or his agent) under contract to the Chiefs."

The player in question, according to the Free Press' Dave Birkett, is current New England Patriots safety Jarrad Page. Page was traded to the Patriots prior to the 2010 season, but he had requested a trade much earlier in the summer. The Lions were reportedly very interested in acquiring him, and apparently at some point somebody from Detroit spoke to Page, either directly or indirectly (through his agent).

Knowing that this finding was part of the NFL's decision to find the Lions guilty of tampering sheds much more light on why the punishment involved losing a draft pick and swapping another. Making general comments about players on other teams is one thing, but you have to know that the NFL will not tolerate contacting a player from another team (or his agent). Although Page was not technically under contract until right before he was traded to the Patriots, he was a restricted free agent, meaning he was not free to negotiate with other teams.

Detroit's punishment from this tampering charge will force them to wait to go on the clock in the fifth round until the 23rd pick. Originally they were set to pick ninth in the fifth round, but the Chiefs will go on the clock then. Also, by losing their seventh-round pick, the Lions are down to only five picks in the 2011 NFL Draft, all of which are in the fifth round or earlier.

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this sucks....

stupid move by someone in the FO/coaching staff.

This is the Motor City. And this is what we do...
P.C.P staffer since way back

by JCruize on Feb 18, 2011 3:39 PM EST reply actions

Pretty dumb..

whoever it was should def know better

by CR on Feb 18, 2011 3:42 PM EST reply actions

It could easily be something as simple as Gunther calling Page and saying...

“Would you be interested in playing in Detroit if we can trade for you?”

Sucks that that is considered tampering, but I’m sure it happens much more than we hear.

Pride of Detroit, for Lions fans | SB Nation Detroit, for Detroit-area sports fans

by Sean Yuille on Feb 18, 2011 3:47 PM EST reply actions

I am sure it happens very frequently

But the NFL wants to show its power and guess who is the guinea pig?

"My perception, sort of going back, looking at the Lions from the outside in, was the Lions would always change courses and overreact. To be at the point now where we were competitive in every game ... We need to stay on that track. We don't need to change course." - Jim Schwartz

by Lionsfan8 on Feb 18, 2011 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

+100

by rames on Feb 19, 2011 3:17 AM EST up reply actions

my wanting

of the team to trade down and acquire more picks in the first round just skyrocketed.

"I famously said, 'There are great things ahead for this franchise.' And I got a lot of people rolling their eyes, looking like they smelled a fart."

"If I ever comment on injuries, Bill Belichick would kick my ass."

-The Schwartz

by KFFE on Feb 18, 2011 4:18 PM EST reply actions

my wanting

of the team to trade down and acquire more picks in the first round just skyrocketed.

"I famously said, 'There are great things ahead for this franchise.' And I got a lot of people rolling their eyes, looking like they smelled a fart."

"If I ever comment on injuries, Bill Belichick would kick my ass."

-The Schwartz

by KFFE on Feb 18, 2011 4:18 PM EST reply actions

stupid slow ass internet

"I famously said, 'There are great things ahead for this franchise.' And I got a lot of people rolling their eyes, looking like they smelled a fart."

"If I ever comment on injuries, Bill Belichick would kick my ass."

-The Schwartz

by KFFE on Feb 18, 2011 4:19 PM EST reply actions

I just don't understand this ruling

When Washington clearly did worse in the AH signing, they simply said they were talking to his agent in regards to another player not under contract, naturally the agent confirmed this to avoid sanctions as well.

Could be as simple as the agent letting the Lions know he would be available.
I hope the fans get a detailed explanation from the organization.

I thought being lazy was a bad thing, So I gave up thinking.

by Wayne Fontes on Feb 18, 2011 4:46 PM EST reply actions

Well KC is on the schedule

I think we can even up the score there….to the 45 to the .40…35…30…25…20…10..5..TOUCHDOWN DETROIT LIONS ;)

"Show me someone with an offseason and I'll show you someone in last place"- Ndamukong Suh ( All Pro, Pro Bowl, Pepsi Rookie of the year, AP defensive rookie of the year, Sporting news rookie of the year,)

by The Profiler on Feb 18, 2011 5:00 PM EST reply actions

hope we St Louis Rams

their asses

"I famously said, 'There are great things ahead for this franchise.' And I got a lot of people rolling their eyes, looking like they smelled a fart."

"If I ever comment on injuries, Bill Belichick would kick my ass."

-The Schwartz

by KFFE on Feb 18, 2011 5:50 PM EST up reply actions

I want to know who the narc is.

You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding onto something.

by BIGWalt2990 on Feb 18, 2011 5:06 PM EST reply actions

pages agent is probly some on the teams agent as well

and it was probley him..

let something slip like “the lions are will to do this”

just imo

by det32 on Feb 18, 2011 5:15 PM EST up reply actions

His agent is his brother...

so I would guess it was amatuer hour.

Chiefs exec: We are offering Page a very good contract.
Page’s Agent: Yeah, well the Lions offered him X amount of dollars, I mean…uhh.

by I_Bleed_Red. on Feb 18, 2011 6:47 PM EST up reply actions

that as good as what i can come up with.. we will likly never know how they found out

by det32 on Feb 18, 2011 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

More understandable I suppose

Still sucks.

RIP Robyn Bailey 1961 - 2010. I love you mum.

by Hyperion Ecta on Feb 18, 2011 5:22 PM EST reply actions

It really sucks, no doubt

But I think if nothing else, Mayhew will find us another 7th rounder somewhere

by Trysdor on Feb 18, 2011 5:27 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I'd lay money Mahew will mot draft any of that agents players or sign any od his FA's

I thought being lazy was a bad thing, So I gave up thinking.

by Wayne Fontes on Feb 18, 2011 6:47 PM EST reply actions

hoing off of what red said.... i donno that his agent has any other players

by det32 on Feb 18, 2011 8:11 PM EST up reply actions

I bet a lot of teams won't want to talk to that agent now.

by coolbreeze42 on Feb 18, 2011 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

my gut says...

we will end up with page in the end. he is a free agent and is position of need for our lions. do it up mayhew!

by YouGonnaEatThat? on Feb 18, 2011 8:56 PM EST reply actions

FA Safeties

Right now that group of FA Safeties is starting to grow though. We signed Erik Coleman. Bob Sanders, and OJ Atogwe are available. Page won’t be able to be signed until the CBA is in place. The two I just named can be signed now and they can get in and talk to them before the CBA expires.

LITTLE MAN IN BACKFIELD! LITTLE MAN IN BACKFIELD! GO STEFAN LOGAN!

by BBlades on Feb 19, 2011 7:40 AM EST up reply actions

In the end it doesn't matter...

We lose a 7th and swap a 5th. We go 6-10 this year and we will be 10-6 next year. I am glad that Gunny was out tampering, looking for help, talking to people, seeing who will do what. They all do it, we just got caught up. Something good will come out of this for us. Like we draft the best outside linebacker to ever play the game in the 5th round pick 23. I have hope.

Ty Cobb is the greatest baseball player of all time:

1911 AL MVP
.367 career batting average (highest ever)
54 career steals of home (most all time)
Won 12 batting titles, including 9 in a row from 1907 to 1915.
Third all time in stolen bases with 892.
Second in runs scored with 2,245.
Second in career hits with 4,191.
Batted under .320 only once in his career.
Batted over .400 three times.

by Jack H on Feb 18, 2011 11:10 PM EST reply actions

I'm not too worried.

We’re probably getting some compensatory 7th rounder anyways, and was there really any fifth rounder that we absolutely needed at 9th because it would be gone before KC picks? Not a big deal.

by Mavyrk on Feb 19, 2011 9:24 AM EST reply actions