KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs’ appeal of anti-tampering violations was denied Monday by Commissioner Roger Goodell, a decision that drew a strong rebuke from their influential owner and team chairman, Clark Hunt.

Kansas City will forfeit its third-round pick in next week’s draft and its sixth-round pick next year, though its $250,000 fine was reduced to $200,000 and Coach Andy Reid’s fine was reduced from $75,000 to $60,000.

The Chiefs were found to have had direct communication with then-free agent wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who had been drafted by Reid in Philadelphia, during the league’s negotiating period. That communication is considered a violation of the NFL’s tampering rules.

While the Chiefs have never denied the tampering charges, they maintained that the penalties handed down last month were inconsistent with those levied in similar cases.

“We appreciate the opportunity to make our appeal on this matter, and we acknowledge the minor reduction in fines,” 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.”

DOLPHINS: Veteran defensive tackle Chris Jones was claimed off waivers after missing last season because of an injury.

Jones started for New England in 2013 and 2014 but was on the physically unable to perform list last year. New England cut him Friday.

BILLS: The Pennsylvania attorney general’s office is reviewing a district attorney’s decision not to charge running back LeSean McCoy in a Philadelphia nightclub fight that left two off-duty police officers injured, the solicitor general said.

Bruce Castor said he met last week with detectives after getting a written request from the president of the police union in Philadelphia. Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said two weeks ago he was not able to prove who started the fight in February, and noted people have a right to defend themselves.