49ers’ Ahmad Brooks fined $15,750 for hit on Drew Brees
By Corey Leahy
It has been announced today that the NFL has given 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks a fine of $15,750 for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
Via ESPN,
"Brooks was penalized for a personal foul, which negated a sack and fumble and enabled the Saints to maintain possession for a game-tying field goal by Garrett Hartley in the fourth quarter. The Saints won 23-20 as Hartley made another field goal as time expired."
Drew Brees spoke with ESPN about the Brooks and the hit as well.
"“I don’t think what Ahmad Brooks did was intentional at all,” Brees said. “I think he’s a heck of a football player and a clean football player. A hard-nosed, clean football player.” “But you look at the result of that … and again in real-time … you can slow it down all you want and watch it and say, ‘Look where the [arm is].’ But I can tell you how I felt when I got hit. It felt like I got my head ripped off. And I get up and I’ve got a mouth full of blood. So there was no doubt in my mind that, ‘Hey, it’s gonna be a penalty.’"
In the days leading up to today’s fine, a couple of notable people have stepped forth to offer assistance to Brooks. Super Bowl champion Ray Lewis, former linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, said he would pay for half of Brooks’ fine if he were to get one.
Tedy Bruschi, former linebacker for the New England Patriots also said on ESPN that he would help Brooks out if a fine were to be given. Bruschi said he would pay third of the fine, and also said “Linebackers, we’ve got each other’s backs.”
Well now it’s time for Bruschi and Lewis to pay up. With Bruschi to pay $5,250 and Lewis to pay $7,875, all that’s left for Brooks is $2,625.