NFL Announces Punishment for Packers Star After Win Over Cardinals
Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker was just hit with a $17,389 fine courtesy of the NFL after a hit on quarterback Jacoby Brissett in the Packers’ Week 7 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Walker was flagged for a low blow to the Cardinals backup’s head/neck early on in the first quarter.
Walker’s near-$18 K punishment is the league’s standard amount for first-offense roughing-the-passer hits to the head and/or neck area this season. The absence of any accompanying suspension suggests that the league likely thought about it, but didn’t consider the play egregious enough to sit him.
More on Green Bay Packers LB Quay Walker Getting Fined for Hit on Arizona Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett Week 7
GettyGreen Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker was fined for his Week 7 hit on Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
Walker arrived in Green Bay as the 22nd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. His rookie campaign flashed his potential (he finished with with 100+ tackles), but it was also marred by two ejections for temper-driven infractions.
The first ejection came Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills, when Walker shoved a member of Buffalo’s medical staff on the sideline after a play, drawing an immediate unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and ejection.
Later that season, in the regular season finale against the Detroit Lions, Walker was ejected for shoving a Lions trainer who was tending to an injured player on the field — an emotional outburst that drew widespread criticism, especially given its timing with Green Bay fighting for a playoff berth. Walker publicly apologized after both incidents, acknowledging that his emotions had gotten the better of him.
He has matured a great deal in the years since.
So far this season, Walker has been one of the more reliable downhill presences for the Packers. Through six games, Walker has 59 total tackles (four for loss), 1.5 sacks, five QB hits and two passes defensed.
Packers Face Huge Challenge vs. Steelers & a Familiar Face
Next up, Walker and tbe Packers (4-1-1) travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers. Considerin Pittsburgh’s current quarterback is Aaron Rodgers, the former long-time face of Green Bay, it should be an interesting matchup to say the least.
While Rodgers is no longer in Green Bay, the narrative — him facing his old team — adds an emotional wrinkle.
For the Packers, quarterback Jordan Love has been strong. He’s completing about 69.3 % of his passes, averaging roughly 8.2 yards per attempt, and has thrown for 250+ yards in three of his starts so far.
Defensively, the Packers are excelling against the run, allowing only 76.5 yards per game on the ground—but they’ve been less efficient generating turnovers (just three all season). Micah Parsons is fresh off NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors (3.0 sacks at Arizona) and sits at 5.5 on the season, while Rashan Gary also has 5.5. If the Steelers double team Parsons, Gary’s one-on-ones are going to be hugely important.
The Steelers have a 4–2 mark, and currently sit atop the AFC North. Pittsburgh is fresh from a bitter loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, so Mike Tomlin and company will be hungry for a win.
Proposed Trade Lands Trae Young With Chicago Bulls
After navigating Josh Giddey‘s restricted free agency this summer, the Chicago Bulls will be preparing for Coby White‘s unrestricted free agency
The score-first guard has shown significant improvement in recent years, cementing himself as a 20-point-per-night threat. Therefore, Chicago must decide whether to issue White a well-earned pay rise, or let him explore the free agency market at the risk of him walking away with nothing coming back in return.
In a recent article from Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, a move for Trae Young was floated as a potential option for the Bulls. Pincus laid out a complete trade idea, which looked like this:
Chicago Bulls Get: Trae Young and Mouhamed Gueye
Atlanta Hawks Get: Coby White, Kevin Huerter, Jevon Carter and a first-round pick
“White emerged as a potent scorer a year ago, but he wants more in an extension than Chicago can legally pay (a maximum of $19.4 million),” Pincus wrote. “White may be one of the top unrestricted free agents in July; or, the Bulls may take a bigger swing by acquiring Young. Huerter, Carter and Gueye are filler in the deal. Chicago would need to give up a first-round pick to entice the Hawks, perhaps the one the
Adding Young would partner him with Giddey and give the Bulls a versatile and talented backcourt.
Bulls Should Be Wary Of Young’s Defensive Issues
Young’s limited defense has been an issue throughout his career. So much so that Atlanta spent years searching for a partner that helped mask Young’s shortcomings. Giddey isn’t the type of defensive talent a team needs in order to get the best out of the All-Star guard.
Furthermore, Young’s need for the ball would limit Giddey’s overall effectiveness. It would be hard to envision a Giddey and Young pairing being the sort of backcourt that a contending-level roster is built around.
With that said, the Bulls may see Young as the type of talent you can’t pass up. If he hits the trade market, the Bulls face a dilemma. They would need to re-evaluate their overall rebuilding blueprint.
Young Would Bring His Own Contract Issues
Unlike White, Young does have another year left on his contract. However, that additional year is a player option. Young will likely opt out of that option. That way, he can sign a new deal with multiple guaranteed years. If Chicago were to trade for him this season, it would likely need to pay him north of $50 million next summer.
The Bulls have been methodical in managing their cap space throughout the current rebuild. They may balk at the notion of committing 25% (or more) of their cap sheet, especially given his shaky fit.
Even if Chicago chooses to keep White around long-term, his cap hit would be slender compared to Young’s. So, while Young would be an attractive name on paper, it’s unlikely we see him head to the Windy City. He doesn’t fit the current rebuilding approach. And, Giddey projects to be the lead guard of the future after a strong debut season.
