Reggie Bush fined $5K for taunting in NFC championship game

**Nick** · #1 (**permalink**) -29-01-2007

Bush docked $5K for taunting Bears' Urlacher
ESPN.com news services
Sunday, January 28, 2007

A week after Reggie Bush wagged his finger at Brian Urlacher, the NFL wagged back.

The league fined the New Orleans Saints running back $5,000 for taunting Urlacher at the end of his 88-yard touchdown reception in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 21.

Bush wagged his finger at the trailing Urlacher shortly before crossing the goal line with a somersault jump. He was not penalized by officials on the play and apologized to head coach Sean Payton immediately after the incident.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed the fine Sunday.

Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner and second pick in last year's draft, caught a short pass from Drew Brees on the left sideline. He sped downfield, cut back near midfield and was several steps ahead of Urlacher when Bush turned and pointed at the Bears star. He then did his front flip into the end zone, making the score 16-14.

The Bears outscored the Saints 23-0 after the incident and won the game 39-14 to advance to the Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4.

**laram0** · #2 (**permalink**) -29-01-2007

He wasn't penalized but gets fined??!!

I mean is this getting ridiculous or is just me?

*r8rh8rmike* · #3 (**permalink**) -29-01-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by laram0

He wasn't penalized but gets fined??!!

I mean is this getting ridiculous or is just me?

It's not you, it is getting rediculous. What Bush did was not only punkish, it was stupid, but it didn't warrant a fine, especially considering it was deemed okay at the time. The NFL might as well just admit the officials screwed up and were afraid to call a penalty at a critical moment in a critical game. I know they want to emphasize a point, but to try and make up for the on-field blunder by the officials with a meaningless fine after the fact is just plain stupid. Once it was missed during the game, that should have been it.

In the end, Bush paid a heavy price for his foolish actions by firing up the Bears and burying any chance his team had of winning the game.

*AlphaRam* · #4 (**permalink**) -30-01-2007

I think I will taunt a co-worker at work tomorrow...but not do the summersault...and see what the boss does...

*tomahawk247* · #5 (**permalink**) -30-01-2007

Bush only made the Bears mad, biggest mistake he ever did

*81~BIG-GAME* · #6 (**permalink**) -30-01-2007

It was a mistake for Bush to do it because it only fired up the Bears even more.However he is a rookie and just scored a really good TD in the Play-offs, so I can see why he was so pumped up but I'm sure looking back he regrets doing it.Think the fine is a bit un-necessary but you get fined in the NFL for looking at the officials the wrong way these days..

:l