Cox Plans to Sue NFL Over $87,500 Fine

Chicago Bear linebacker Bryan Cox, who on Thursday was fined $87,500, the equivalent of one day’s pay, said he will sue the NFL.

Cox was fined for verbally abusing field judge Bill Smith, making repeated obscene gestures at the official and shouting obscenities during Sunday’s game against Green Bay.

“Your misconduct in last Sunday’s game was again unprovoked, unprofessional, offensive to NFL fans and unbecoming for an NFL player,” Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said in a statement released by the league.

Tagliabue also threatened Cox with a suspension “of at least one game” for any future misconduct detrimental to the league.

Cox said he will not appeal the decision, but he plans to file a lawsuit claiming unfair treatment and “excessive fines.”

“We’re going straight to court,” said Cox, whose eight fines in six years total $125,500. “I’m not upset, mad or bitter. I’ll let the lawyers take over.”

Cox claimed it was clear Tagliabue arrived at the fine amount based largely on Cox’s checkered past.

“My standards are certainly different than anyone else’s in this game,” said Cox, who signed a four-year, $13.2-million deal as a free agent in the off-season. “This fine will not kill me. I’m a strong black man. I’ll persevere and survive.”

Cox cited as an example an incident two weeks ago involving Oakland center Steve Wisniewski. Wisniewski was fined $10,000 for an illegal chop block on Bear defensive end Alonzo Spellman.

“The league obviously puts more of a standard on control as opposed to player safety,” Cox said.

Last Sunday, Cox was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after arguing with officials following a 50-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the first half. The Bears believed that safety Mark Carrier was pulled down from behind by Green Bay receiver Antonio Freeman, who caught the ball.

Cox proceeded to wave his middle finger at an official and throw his helmet in disgust.

“Everyone knows that [conduct] is not part of the game,” Bear Coach Dave Wannstedt said. “You have to have the emotion part of it, but it has to be funneled in the right direction.”

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Green Bay tackle Ken Ruettgers’ surgically repaired left knee has held up well in his first two workouts and a decision on whether he’ll play against San Francisco could come very soon.

“He came back a little bit stiff when he walked out there. But he looked OK today,” offensive line coach Tom Lovat said.