Apparently, it’s not even a good idea to give your teammates the bird.
It’s definitely a no-no to give a one-finger salute to the opponent or the crowd, and A.J. Hawk has learned it’s not a good idea to use it, period.
The Green Bay Packers linebacker has been fined $10,000 by the NFL for making the gesture to his own sideline during Sunday’s victory over the St. Louis Rams at Lambeau Field. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported the news.
Hawk was contrite about the matter afterward.
“I guess it was on TV," Hawk said after the game, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I definitely wasn't mad or upset with anybody. It was kind of a running joke with a couple of my teammates. I got caught up in the emotion of the game.
"Sometimes you forget that it's on TV. I definitely want to apologize to anyone who's kids were watching and got offended or anything. I understand. I'm sorry that got out there. … I definitely apologize for that. It wasn't meant to get out there for people to see."
Now, he knows better.
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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune