Bears LB Brian Urlacher is planning to appeal a $5,000 fine he was assessed by the league for a late hit in Week One.
Urlacher was penalized for pushing Lions OG Stephen Peterman after the whistle had blown, prompting a 15-yard personal-foul penalty
"First of all, I didn't hear the whistle," Urlacher told the Chicago Tribune on Friday. "If they would have blown the whistle, I would have stopped. (Peterman) said he didn't even hear the whistle."
One of Urlacher's teammates, DE Julius Peppers, was fined $5,000 for hitting Lions QB Matthew Stafford in the helmet. Peppers told the Tribune he wouldn't appeal his fine.
The way we see it
In terms of violence, Urlacher's push of Peterman wasn't severe by any measure, but it clearly came after the whistle had blown. His appeal will rest on whether he can convince league officials that he couldn't have been expected to hear the whistle.