As expected, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will appeal the $10,000 fine he was handed for taunting Minnesota Vikings cornerback A.J. Jefferson on Nov. 25.
"I was surprised. Actually, I was shocked by that one," Cutler said Monday during his weekly radio show with ESPN's "Waddle & Silvy" on WMVP (1000). "I didn't see that one coming. I think we'll appeal that and go through the process and we'll see what happens."
Cutler was penalized for taunting after he whimsically tossed the ball at Jefferson. Cutler stiff-armed Jefferson as he made his way out of bounds after a good scramble. He was notified last Tuesday about the fine.
The Bears were fined a total of $41,500 for actions in the Vikings game. Brian Urlacher was fined $15,750 for a horse-collar tackle on Adrian Peterson. Henry Melton was fined $7,875 for a facemask penalty against Peterson. And Eric Weems was fined $7,875 for a late hit on Jefferson.
"[Urlacher] is probably going to get another one too," Cutler said, referring to Urlacher's horse-collar tackle on Seattle Seahawks running back Leon Washington in the second quarter on Sunday.
On Fox 32 after the game Sunday, Urlacher said he expects to be fined and that he'll appeal it.
On his radio show, Cutler said that he wouldn't want to play defense in the NFL right now with all the scrutiny the players are under and all the fines they face.
"It's hard," Cutler said. "You're talking split-second decisions these guys have to make, and you're hitting a moving target. It's tough."
He definitely should appeal. There was clearly no intent to inflict injury, and all in all, even to be penalized was stretching a point. Even wheter or not he was taunting was questionable. I think the official should be penalized and fined for overreacting to a good-humored event.