Minnesota Chiefs Tampering Punishment

Minnesota Chiefs Tampering Punishment

adamantium
Registered
ARGO CLUB 4-4-4-4-4 LIFE

05-29-2019, 12:36 PM

Hello SHL,

Following a recent thread, it’s come to our attention that Minnesota Chiefs Co-GM @Daco has committed an act of tampering. In the linked thread, Daco targets restricted free agents whose rights are technically owned by the Buffalo Stampede. While this is technically covered in the rulebook under Section J (Conduct), Subsection 5a-3. through a clarification from 2013, Head Office takes exception to this situation and that clarification for two major reasons. The clarification reads as follows:

Code:
”Could a general manager or player make a Media article during the Playoffs explaining which player positions they need to fill this offseason and which free agents they will be targeting and why their team and that player are a good fit? 

Such as "Hamilton needs a new fourth line Center this offseason and with Nugent-Hall being a scrub and a total penis, the Steelcocks will certainly offer him a contract as soon as Free Agency opens." 

Is it ok because it's in a media article to discuss player names, the offering of a contract in the future and why they should come to your team as long as there's no private communication?”

Keep contract details and that kind of stuff out of it but otherwise the rest is acceptable.

Head Office believes this situation is not covered by this clarification because:

1. In this situation, Daco is targeting Restricted Free Agents, not Unrestricted ones, before free agency has opened.
2. Additionally, Daco is openly targeting the RFAs of one specific team (Buffalo), rather than eyeing the open field of free agents available. This point is especially relevant as it adds a more malicious intent to poach players rather than to discuss what needs to be filled and who might do that from a broader pool of free agents.

Beyond the exceptions to the clarification listed in Section J, Subsection 5a-3., Head Office also believes this violates another part of the tampering rules, found in Section J, Subsection 5a-2. A 2017 rule adjustment, put forth by Commissioner Eggy216, states the following:

Code:
Public comments are allowed [b]within reason.[/b] For example, no member may offer or discuss a contract to a player currently under contract with another team either in public or in private.

Head Office believes that the media piece written by Daco is not “within reason.” The piece openly and maliciously targets one specific team’s RFA pool in an attempt to poach players. While the concept of a media piece discussing potential free agent signings is covered in Section J, Subsection 5a-3., the media piece does not address issues that need filling in the Minnesota lineup, but instead focuses on what Minnesota would offer the player that they are not getting in Buffalo.

In summary, SHL HO believes Minnesota Chiefs Co-GM Daco to have committed tampering on the following grounds:

1. Daco’s media piece is not covered by the clarification thread in the SHL Rulebook, Section J, Subsection 5a-3. Daco’s media piece maliciously targets one team’s pool of restricted free agent prospects and, as such, disqualifies itself from being covered by this clarification thread.
2. Daco’s media piece does not fall “within reason” as discussed in the SHL Rulebook, Section J, Subsection 5a-2. Daco’s media piece does not address issues with the Minnesota roster, instead maliciously targeting one team’s pool of restricted free agents in an attempt to convince them that they’d be better off not being on Buffalo, rather than by being on Minnesota.

The Minnesota Chiefs will be issued the standard tampering punishment which is as follows:

1. A loss of three first-round picks.
2. A 10 million dollar team fine.
3. Minnesota will not be allowed to sign free agents for the duration of S48.
4. Daco’s player will be suspended during his first official season with Minnesota--normally the suspension is immediate, however since Daco is still playing Juniors, SHL HO did not want to punish an uninvolved SMJHL team. As such, the suspension will be delayed until Daco’s first season with Minnesota.

As always, the Minnesota Chiefs reserve the right to appeal this punishment if they so choose.

Thank you.