Packers vs. Rams: How Should the NFL Punish A.J. Hawk for His Gesture?

A.J. Hawk is a mean dude who starts at inside linebacker for the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

They are playing the St. Louis Rams today, and Hawk is already causing chaos in the Rams’ backfield.

Hawk got loose early in the second quarter and smashed Sam Bradford for a 9-yard loss.

After getting up, Hawk decided to make a rude gesture at someone on the sideline. He flipped the bird and obviously wasn't pleased with whoever provoked him.

I don't know why anyone would try to anger this crazy guy, but it certainly isn't going to bode well for their quarterback.

A motivated and angry A.J. Hawk is not someone you want to try and stop from rushing the passer. 

Hawk is a former first-round pick and was drafted fifth overall by the Packers back in 2006. He was released this offseason and signed to a restructured deal one day later.

Unfortunately for Hawk, he is definitely going to have to take some of that money from his new contract out of his savings account and give it to the league office.

When cameras catch players doing something inappropriate like this, it often results in a fine from the commissioner, and it goes against the code of conduct policy they try to follow both on and off the field.

If you remember a few years back, Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams flipped the bird to the Buffalo sideline from his owner's box and was fined $250,000.

Hawk won't face nearly a severe a fine, but the league will certainly make sure they make a few bucks on the extension of his middle finger. 

I expect it to be somewhere in the $7,500-$25,000 range since it was not on national television, and people may have turned the blowout off by then.