The Chicago Bears won a contentious game on Saturday by taking down the Green Bay Packers. A big part of how it all unfolded came when quarterback Jordan Love was knocked out with a concussion. It came during a nasty collision with Bears edge rusher Austin Booker in the 2nd quarter. The play drew a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness. Nobody disputed the infraction. If you hit a quarterback in the helmet, it's a penalty. That is just how it is. However, the Packers weren't satisfied with that.
Some of their players openly complained that Booker should've been punished even more. Not just a penalty but an outright ejection. Maybe a possible suspension. They feel the Bears defender was head-hunting on the play.
That seems a little extreme from a team that isn't known for outspoken complaints like this. Do they have a case? No. Not even close. A replay shows what happened in clear detail. Booker beat his man late as Love was tangled up with Gervon Dexter. His stature was a little high, but not high enough to go right for the quarterback's head. That changed when Love ducked to brace for the hit. Had he stayed upright, Booker would've caught him on the chest.
The Packers have no evidence to plead their case on Austin Booker.
Was it a penalty? Yes. The Bears' defender will also probably get fined for leading with his helmet too much. However, to say he had an outright intent to purposely injure Love is ridiculous. The quarterback played his own role in that mess. Part of the outcry probably stems from the fact that Booker had a good game. He earned half a sack, a QB hit, and four pressures on the night. Seeing a player send your quarterback to the sideline, keep playing well, and beat you is hard to take.
Not that Austin Booker cares. His mission on the play was getting Love on the ground. He couldn't afford to stop and ponder if he was coming in with too much force. He's wired to see the ball, get the ball. Chances to get shots on the quarterback are rare. Sometimes, body positioning can lead to injuries. It is a violent sport. Calling for a player to be punished for an accident is bad form on the Packers' part, proving they remain adept at complaining when they don't get the results they want. Ask the Philadelphia Eagles about the Tush Push.
