Making fun of Tom Brady doesn't play well with the boys upstairs.
Battista: XLVIII things to watch
As teams get ready to race for Super Bowl XLVIII, Judy Battista picks out 48 things that will hold your attention this season. **More ...**
Detroit Lions defensive end Willie Young learned as much Friday when he was fined $7,875 for taunting the Patriots quarterback in a 40-9 preseason win over New England on Aug. 22, a league source told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.
Young promptly was benched for the rest of the game by Lions coach Jim Schwartz for what turned out to be an expensive emotional outburst by the third-year pass rusher.
Other fines rolling in, according to Mr. RapSheet:
» Detroit's whipping of the Patriots was costly: Along with Young, four additional Lions were fined. Rapoport was told Nick Fairley was docked $7,875 for a late hit, while Ben Volin of The Boston Globe reportedC.J. Mosley, Joseph Fauria and Rocky McIntosh also were hit with $7,875 fines for personal fouls.
»Carolina Panthers running back Armond Smith was ejected for kicking an opponent during an Aug. 22 preseason win over the Baltimore Ravens. On Friday, the league hit Smith with a $15,000 fine for the play.
»Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly painted a masterpiece against the Ravens, but he was flagged by officials for a hit to the head. The NFL, however, decided not to fine Kuechly, Rapoport was told.
» More bad luck for New York Jets quarterbacks: Matt Simms was hit with a $7,875 slap on the wrist for his ill-fated six-shooter-themed celebration in Gang Green's Snoopy Bowl win over the New York Giants on Aug. 24. Meanwhile, Jets offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse was hit with a $7,875 bill for a leg whip against the G-Men. Naughty Jets.
»Jacksonville Jaguars punter Ken Parrish was fined $7,875 for a second-quarter face-mask penalty on a punt return against the Philadelphia Eagleson Aug. 24.
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