Earlier today, the NFL announced that 15 clubs were awarded 33 compensatory draft picks, but the Chicago Bears were not among them.
Chicago was hoping the League would reverse its initial ruling that they would not receive comp picks per the Rooney Rule after assistant general manager Ian Cunningham was hired as the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, but that was not in the cards.
“The Bears were loud in the right places (public media settings with maximum visibility at the combine) regarding
how they felt wronged by the NFL’s decision to not award comp picks for Ian Cunningham’s departure.” ESPN’s Courtney Cronin shared earlier today via social media. “It goes against the spirit of what the Rooney Rule is supposed to be about (promoting minority advancement in coaching and front office positions). The NFL was adamant in January that it wasn’t something that could be appealed, but the Bears tried anyway. Can’t fault them for their attempt, but fallout from this should lead to a real conversation about the rule in the first place and how poorly this reflects back on the League.”
The League’s rules are very clear, and with Matt Ryan listed as Atlanta’s primary football executive, Cunningham’s hire is considered a lateral move, even though Ryan himself has said Cunningham is in charge of personnel.
Cronin was asked last week whether she thought the Bears would win their appeal, and she felt the spirit of the rule, along with Cunningham’s job description, would ultimately lead the NFL to award the Bears the comp picks.
It was a common-sense notion shared by many, but not the primary decision maker in the League.
Chicago was also shut out of the normal comp pick formula based on signing and losing free agents.
