Brian Urlacher
The Chicago Bears LB was fined $100,000 for wearing a black baseball cap during Super Bowl media day that promoted an unauthorized sponsor, Vitamin Water. Gatorade is the official sponsor of the NFL. During an interview with ESPNews, Urlacher said Vitamin Water offered to pay the fine, but he declined the offer. Urlacher said he would pay his $100,000 fine out of his own pocket and that Vitamin Water would match the fine with a $100,000 donation to the United Way under his name. Mike Repole, president of Whitestone, New York-based Glaceau, the maker of Vitamin Water, said he "feels terrible" that the NFL fined Urlacher. The LB has a partnership with the closely held company dating back more than a year. According to an NFL spokesman, this is the first time such a fine had been levied and is the largest issued under the league's uniform policy. A Chicago radio station later gave the Vitamin Water hat to Bears fan named Crystal Stupar, whose husband is serving in Afghanistan. The Stupars then put the hat up for auction on eBay and ultimately sold it for $15,100.
| Fine Amount: |
$100,000 |
| Violation Date: |
01-30-2007 |
| Violation Type: |
Head & Helmet |
| Violation Motive: |
Advertising |
| League: |
NFL |
| Team: |
Chicago Bears |
| Opponent: |
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Other Bears Violations & Honorable Mentions:
