Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker is coming into his own during his second NFL season, but his most recent take down of Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has proven costly all around.
Booker got to Love late in the second quarter of the NFC North Division showdown last Saturday, December 19. He brought Love down, but incurred a penalty for a helmet-to-helmet hit that cost Chicago 15 yards and negated the sack. More seriously, Love left the game with a concussion and was unable to return.
The Packers QB remains in concussion protocol as of Wednesday, just three days ahead of a pivotal matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. Green Bay must win both games and Chicago must lose twice down the stretch, otherwise the Bears claim the division crown. The Packers are also still fighting to stave off the Detroit Lions (8-7) and guarantee themselves a wildcard playoff spot in the NFC.
As for the cost to the Bears, Booker revealed on Wednesday in an interview with the Chicago Tribune that the league’s Office of Gameday Accountability levied not one, but two punishments against him for two different hits on Love over the course of the contest.
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The NFL won’t make that information available to the public until Saturday afternoon, but Booker clearly found out earlier and shared it with the Tribune. Booker said that each fine carries a $5,000 penalty, the first for roughing the passer on the play that knocked Love out of the game and another for roughing the passer on a hit Booker made against Love earlier in the night.
And oddly enough, it was actually the non-concussive blow for which Booker admitted some fault, though he took issue with the fine on the hit that caused the injury because he said Love lowered his head just before impact.
“The first one I’ll take full responsibility for. Like, I landed on him, I should have braced myself more,” Booker explained. “But I think the second one could definitely go both ways.”
“He ducked his head and football plays happen,” Booker continued. “If they want to [fine me], they can. Shoot, we’re just playing football.”
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