NFL sends a loud message, slamming Bears defender for repeat offense against Packers QB Jordan Love
Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker just got hit with another massive fine by the NFL.
Last week’s game between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers was filled with a lot of hostility and a lot of high emotion, as things should be in a rivalry playoff game.
A lot of the drama boiled over into this week with head coach Ben Johnson explaining his distain for the Packers organization and the Bears were hoping to finally turn the page after eliminating their division rival.
However, before the Bears fully get set for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, the NFL wanted to send one last strong message going back to the Bears’ win against the Packers.
Bears DE Austin Booker hit with massive fine for hit on Packers QB Jordan Love
The NFL released the fines sent out from the wild card weekend on Saturday and the largest offense belonged to Bears second-year defensive end Austin Booker, who was fined a whopping $46,371 for Unnecessary Roughness – Use of the helmet.
The play in which Booker was fined for occurred on a second quarter sack against Packers quarterback Jordan Love. The league reviewed the tape and decided Booker did, in fact, lead with his helmet even though no flag was thrown on the play by the officials.
Austin Booker needs to learn to break this bad habit before even worse punishments occur
This is the third such offense Booker was fined for this season, and all three came on sacks against Love. Back in Week 16, Booker was fined a total of $11,636 for his two hits on Love. The second hit forced Love out of the game with a concussion.
“That’s the cost of doing business, unfortunately, sometimes,” Johnson said the following week to Jeff Joniak on ESPN Chicago. “We’re certainly conscious of it, I know that’s not (Booker’s) intention. None of our guys play that way, that’s not how we’re coached, or we’re built.”
It’s even worse of a look after it happens a third time, especially against the same quarterback. As bad as it looks for Booker, and this latest fine certainly stings, Johnson is right. No one wants to see anyone get hurt, intentional or not. And frankly, it’s a difficult thing to teach against.
“To me, that’s a tough one to coach sometimes,” Johnson added. “That’s the nature of being a pass rusher in this league. It’s not a hit that anybody wants to see in this game. It’s 100 percent a flag, I want to be clear on that.”
The NFL isn’t going to let this kind of thing slide and will continue sending a stronger message until Booker finally changes up his play style in those situations.
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