Chicago Bears rookie linebacker Jon Bostic has been fined $21,000 for his seemingly textbook hit last week on San Diego Chargers wide receiver Mike Willie.
According to multiple reports, NFL officials cited a somewhat archaic rule involving the “lowering of the head and making forcible contact with a defenseless player’s body” and not a violation of the new “crown of the helmet rule.”
“Shaking my head moment,” tweeted fellow Bears linebacker Lance Briggs. “NFL fines Jon Bostic 21K for his clean hit. He later added “Bostic’s hit illegal. Hit on Dustin Keller. Legal.”
Keller, a tight end for the Miami Dolphins, suffered a season-ending knee injury on a controversially low tackle by Houston Texans safety D.J. Swearinger the league later deemed legal.
Bostic hit Willie's chest region after a short pass during the Bears' 33-28 win last Thursday. He separated the receiver from the ball, and the pass was ruled incomplete. Bostic was not flagged on the play.
The Florida rookie is scheduled to earn a $405,000 base salary during his rookie season, in addition to a $1,246,036 signing bonus. Thus the fine imposed on Bostic basically results in the loss of an entire game check.
With free agent signing D.J. Williams still nursing a calf injury, Bostic has been penciled in as the Bears starting opening day linebacker.
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