The punishment has been laid down for Bears’ D.J. Moore by Goodell and the NFL, and the punishment does not fit the crime, it doesn’t come close. D.J. Moore was fined $15,000 for going after Matthew Stafford, which caused a fight and caused Moore to be ejected from the game. Read the story here on the fine: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-bears-moore-fined-15000-for-retaliating-against-stafford-20111118,0,3215485.story.
Why is the fine not enough? Questionable hits in the past several weeks have drawn as much as $40,0o0 in fines. Ryan Clark’s hit, seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53JM824vnDA, was a bang bang play and drew a $40,000 fine. The hit may have been a little high, but in the heat of the moment, players can not always adjust themselves to cause a devastating yet ‘legal’ hit. In Moore’s case, a lapse in judgement caused him to go after Stafford and start a fight during the game, which he was ejected for. If the NFL is going to fine Clark $40,000 for a play that does not end in him being ejected from a game, then they need to fine players that are ejected for misconduct much more than that.
What do you think?
Stafford and Rob Sims were fined $7,500 for their roles in the fight according to Dave Birkett, Lions beat reporter (via Twitter):
davebirkett Dave Birkett
Matthew Stafford got fined $7500 for tossing DJ Moore to the ground
31 minutes ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply
davebirkett Dave Birkett
Rob Sims also got fined $7500 for jumping on the pile late.
29 minutes ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply
If anything, Stafford wasn’t fined enough. He knew damn well what he was doing when he was illegally throwing Moore to the ground. I don’t disagree that Moore should probably be a bit lighter in the wallet. However, Stafford should of been tossed as well for starting the melee. That’s in addition to a stiffer fine.
I do agree to some extent. Stafford was reckless in his play with throwing Moore down, but nothing breaks out if it wasn’t for Moore.
are you kidding me? moores fine was sufficient, however….Stafford’s fine was vastly insufficient. Vastly. Not only should it have been at least equal to Moore’s, it should have been at least 2x. Stafford was the one who endangered a players health (career? life?).
So Stafford deserved $30,000 in fines for tossing Moore to the ground? Then Suh should have been fined $100,000.