Panthers wide receiver Brandon LaFell is unlikely to play against the Redskins this Sunday as a result of a concussion he suffered against the Bears last weekend.
Bears safety Chris Conte, who delivered the hit that led to the concussion, will be playing, but he won’t wind up netting much money for the game. The NFL has confirmed that Conte was fined $21,000 for unnecessarily hitting a defenseless player in the head and neck area.
LaFell was injured on a play when Conte hit the Panthers receiver in the head with his shoulder on a pass that wound up falling incomplete. LaFell wound up returning to the game, but suffered concussion symptoms this week and has been listed as doubtful for this week.
Conte was penalized during the game, but was still surprised to learn that he was being fined by the league. He originally thought his teammates were playing a prank on him, but soon realized that wasn’t the case and that he will try to get the fine reduced via appeal.
“I love football so I don’t mind (the fine), but I’d like to get paid,” Conte said, via Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com. “That’s a big chunk of money that I make. I think it’s kind of unfair to fine a guy that’s on his rookie contract that much money, but hopefully they will look at it and get it reduced.”
We don’t see that happening, although we understand the desire to get paid for a day’s work.