Lions vs Bears: Determining Which Players Should Be Fined for Dirty Hits, Fight

The Chicago Bears defeated the Detroit Lions in their second meeting of the season, drubbing the one-time playoff favorites 37-13.

In what was clearly a tense, hard-hitting game between two long-time rivals with a lot yet to prove, there were big hits, physical confrontations and other infractions that will likely result in a number of players receiving fines over the course of the coming week.

Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett wore (prohibited) orange shoes for the second week in a row and will get slapped with another fine. Whether it's the $5,000, the sartorial choice cost him last week or more—he's a repeat offender and you know how NFL commissioner Roger Goodell loves to make examples of them—he'll see his game check docked.

But that's small potatoes compared to the fines likely coming for a number of hard (and illegal) hits.

Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh ripped off Bears quarterback Jay Cutler's helmet; fellow Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley drove Cutler into the ground after he had thrown a pass; Bears defensive end Julius Peppers clothesline tackled Lions receiver Calvin Johnson; and Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs drew a personal foul penalty for yet another big hit on Johnson.

But the biggest trouble for the wallets of players on both teams will stem from a protracted fight between them.

In the fourth quarter, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw one of his four interceptions to Tim Jennings and tossed cornerback D.J. Moore to the ground while Jennings ran the ball back. Moore charged at Stafford, threw him down and a major confrontation occurred between the Bears and Lions as a result.

Though Moore was ejected from the game, he won't be the only player subjected to fines as a result of the fight; Stafford played a major role in the escalation of the situation, and he'll likely be docked a part of his pay this week for it.

When divisional rivals take the field against each other, it's clear that emotions are going to be running high. With the Bears out for revenge in Week 10, and the Lions trying to hold onto their postseason hopes, clearly this was going to be a violent game.

The hits may or may not have been "dirty," but they were, according to today's NFL rules, illegal, and the fight resulted in an ejection, so fines must follow.

But, be sure, there's a difference between rivalry and dirty play, and neither the Bears nor Lions can be labeled dirty because of Sunday's game.

Those players fined as a result of what they did today were both passionate and willing to lose a few dollars later for a big stop now. That's the reality of Goodell's NFL—there is a loophole, and it's all about players making the hits and taking their medicine later. It's an effective strategy, like it or not.