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Bears linemen Kreutz, Miller fined $50,000 for fight
Chicago Bears offensive linemen Olin Kreutz and Fred Miller were fined $50,000 each Friday for a fight that violated the NFL's personal conduct policy.
The players were involved in the fight last month at the FBI shooting range in the Chicago area, prompting an internal investigation by the bureau.
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue fined Kreutz and Miller because the league's special conduct policy addresses off-field matters. It specifically prohibits conduct that endangers NFL employees and casts a negative light on the league and its players.
Kreutz broke Miller's jaw during the altercation. Miller, who needed surgery, originally claimed he was hurt in a fall at home. Bears coach Lovie Smith was unaware of the fight until days after it occurred.
Kreutz said he would appeal.
"I'm going to fight it obviously," he said Friday after the Bears' practice in Lake Forest, Ill. "I don't want to pay that fine. I don't think it's an appropriate fine, but that's what it came back at. I don't know how much I can do about it, but I'm going to fight it."
Miller declined comment. Smith said it was a league punishment.
"We wanted the league to rule on it so we could move on and they have, so we'll just kind of go from there," Smith said.
Neither player was suspended.
Harold Lewis, who represents Miller, said on Nov 16: "If we get a fine from the league, we'll work it out with the league. If we get a fine from the Bears, we'll work it out with the Bears."
The broken jaw knocked Miller, one of the key offseason acquisitions, out of the 49ers' game on Nov. 13 and ended a run of 110 straight starts dating to 1998.
Kreutz has not missed any games because of the incident.
Source: AP
The players were involved in the fight last month at the FBI shooting range in the Chicago area, prompting an internal investigation by the bureau.
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue fined Kreutz and Miller because the league's special conduct policy addresses off-field matters. It specifically prohibits conduct that endangers NFL employees and casts a negative light on the league and its players.
Kreutz broke Miller's jaw during the altercation. Miller, who needed surgery, originally claimed he was hurt in a fall at home. Bears coach Lovie Smith was unaware of the fight until days after it occurred.
Kreutz said he would appeal.
"I'm going to fight it obviously," he said Friday after the Bears' practice in Lake Forest, Ill. "I don't want to pay that fine. I don't think it's an appropriate fine, but that's what it came back at. I don't know how much I can do about it, but I'm going to fight it."
Miller declined comment. Smith said it was a league punishment.
"We wanted the league to rule on it so we could move on and they have, so we'll just kind of go from there," Smith said.
Neither player was suspended.
Harold Lewis, who represents Miller, said on Nov 16: "If we get a fine from the league, we'll work it out with the league. If we get a fine from the Bears, we'll work it out with the Bears."
The broken jaw knocked Miller, one of the key offseason acquisitions, out of the 49ers' game on Nov. 13 and ended a run of 110 straight starts dating to 1998.
Kreutz has not missed any games because of the incident.
Source: AP
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