NFL denies Bears' appeal for compensatory draft picks
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The NFL has denied the Chicago Bears' appeal to receive two third-round compensatory draft picks after former Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham was hired as the Falcons' General Manager.
- The league ruled that Cunningham did not qualify as the Falcons' Primary Football Executive, a key requirement for awarding compensatory picks under NFL rules.
- Despite Falcons president Matt Ryan and others affirming Cunningham's role as GM, the NFL maintained that Ryan is the primary football executive, not Cunningham.
- Bears officials, including owner George McCaskey and GM Ryan Poles, met with Commissioner Roger Goodell to appeal the decision, but the league's ruling remained final.
- The NFL's decision avoids admitting an initial error and potentially sidesteps political controversy related to the Rooney Rule and league policies.
