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Bumping a ref costs Antwan Barnes $25,000

Oakland Raiders v San Diego Chargers

SAN DIEGO, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Linebacker Antwan Barnes #98 of the San Diego Chargers warms up for the game with the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium on November 10, 2011 in San Diego, California. The Raiders won 24-17. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Stephen Dunn

Chargers outside linebacker Antwan Barnes bumped an official in Sunday’s regular-season finale. That was a big mistake.

Barnes was ejected from the game, and now the NFL has fined him $25,000.

That’s a disappointing ending to what had been an outstanding season for Barnes. After bouncing around the league as a reserve and special teams player in Baltimore and Philadelphia, he had found his place in San Diego in 2011. Barnes became a starter for the first time in his career and had 11 sacks.

Sunday’s game was the second week in a row that Barnes found himself in a confrontation. Barnes also mixed it up with Lions center Dominic Raiola prior to their Week 16 game, but he was not fined for that.