Bears Defensive End Receives Fine for Hit

By Gabriela Moore
Jan 27 2011

Julius Pepper, the defensive end for the Chicago Bears, received a fine this morning in the amount of $10,000 for a helmet to helmet hit in last Sunday’s game.

Pepper and the Bears were informed of the fine this morning after days of speculation about the incident. Pepper collided with Aaron Rodgers from the Packers and Rodgers was carried off the field after the hit took place.

For the last several months the NFL has been tightening their rules on what they consider to be violent and unnecessary hits between the teams. This comes after several deaths, as well as severe brain damage, has been attributed to the hits that the players often take during the games.

Most often the players that receive the fines will appeal them through the player’s union. With the newly adopted rules the union has been busy trying to defend the players against the fines but they have been quite unsuccessful over the past several months. Only one player received a reduced fine for a violent hit since the rules were adopted.

Pepper has said that he will appeal the ruling. According to his statements, released to the media, the hit was a complete accident and just the result of two players working to win the game.

Concussions have become a major concern to the NFL after doctors discovered that dozens of players were on the field and potentially harming their brains. Concussions often have no symptoms and are difficult to diagnose.