GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The hit that was costliest on the field did not draw a fine, but one that was not flagged cost a member of the Green Bay Packers some cash.

Linebacker Brad Jones was not fined for his hit to the helmet of Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford in the second quarter of last Sunday's game, but linebacker Sam Barrington was docked $16,537 for roughing Stafford in third quarter. Barrington was not penalized even though he drove Stafford into the turf.

Rob Demovsky  wrote:

I'll be honest I didn't see Barrington's hit but I did see Jones'. While I do not like the rule where any taping of the QB helmet is a penalty if they enforce it consistently I can live with it. As such the hit deserved the penalty. I do think that when it comes to fines though some leeway has to be given for such hits like the one Jones had. He was rushing the passer with his arms up and as he broke past his blocker his hand came down and hit Stafford's helmet. More like brushed it but it did make contact. OK 15 yard penalty but it in no way deserved a fine. I'd say that with any similar hit on any QB even Rodgers.


I see Reggie bush was fined for the face mask on Hayward as well. We rarely see a facemask call on running backs and I am not sure why not but it does seem to be a pretty evenly enforced call so I don't have a problem with it. Bush's went to far though. It was more than a stiff arm that made contact with the facemask he actually grabbed it after the initial contact and threw Hayward with it. It should have been a penalty and what probably drew the fine was the fact that he forced Hayward into the heater. It was a deserved fine in that case.

Originally Posted by: sschind 

Bush might have been ejected if the ref had seen that. IMO.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann