Packers Daily Links: NFL Fines Pat Lee $15,000 for Ejection

Pat Lee will reportedly appeal his fine claiming he didn't throw a punch. That and more in today's Daily Links...

Cornerback Pat Lee was fined $15,000 by the NFL for an ejection he got by allegedly punching Lions cornerback Aaron Berry on special teams last week, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It was like a push-off," Lee said in defense of himself. "I was pushing off to get away. They thought I was throwing a punch. If I was throwing a punch I probably would have attacked or something like that. But when I pushed off, it caught him in his helmet and I got away." Lee will appeal the fine.

More on Pat Lee appears in the Journal Sentinel.

Linebacker Erik Walden will start on Sunday against the New York Giants. "Whatever internal discipline the Packers may invoke, if any, won’t prevent him from playing this week, coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday," writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "Walden appeared to take his usual workload of reps as the starting right outside linebacker during preparations for the Giants." As Demovsky notes, the NFL isn't likely to take any disciplinary action this week on Walden.

More on Erik Walden comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com and the Associated Press.

Offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith spoke with the media for the first time since the Thanksgiving Day game and was asked plenty of questions about Ndamukong Suh. Dietrich-Smith mostly deflected the attention. “It’s not really cool to be famous for getting stepped on," the right guard told the Press-Gazette. "It doesn’t really matter to me. I prefer to just make sure that I take every day the same. If you guys want to make a story about me one day, that’s cool, but I’m not going to sit here and try and hog your time.” Dietrich-Smith practiced with the first string on Wednesday and would appear to be the starter heading into Sunday's game against the Giants with Josh Sitton having been ruled out.

More on Evan Dietrich-Smith appears at ESPNMilwaukee.com, the Journal Sentinel, the Packers official website and PackersNews.com.

Chad Clifton now has a back injury in addition to his hamstring, keeping him from returning for the Packers. But Marshall Newhouse's play has been a positive in Clifton's place. "Big picture, there’s no reason to think Clifton’s prolonged absence would slow the Packers’ trek to an undefeated season," writes Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel. "Through seven games at left tackle, Newhouse hasn’t stood out as a sore spot." Head coach Mike McCarthy on Wednesday gave Newhouse a vote of confidence during his press conference.

More on Chad Clifton comes from PackersNews.com and ESPNMilwaukee.com.

The linebacker situation for the Packers continues to be a bit murky. "Other than Matthews – who has been on the injury report since Week 3 with a slew of injuries ranging from sore quadriceps to knees to ankles but has played in every game – the rest of the group of Packers starting linebackers could be out of action," writes Paul Imig of Fox Sports Wisconsin. Neither A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop practiced on Wednesday and won't Thursday either. It won't be until Friday until the picture is a little more clear on the linebackers.

The Packers began on-field preparation for the New York Giants on Wednesday. "The Packers' company line Wednesday, their first day on the practice field following a four-day post-Thanksgiving vacation, was that the Giants are a talented team that has been inconsistent," writes Tom Silverstein.

More on the upcoming Giants game comes from the Press-Gazette, two articles from Packer Report(subscription required), Fox Sports Wisconsin, the Associated Press, JSOnline and the Wisconsin State Journal.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers answers questions at Fox Sports Wisconsin.

Former defensive end Michael Strahan visited Giants practice on Wednesday before the Packers game.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning talked about the Packers game.

Ndamukong Suh appeals his suspension on Thursday stemming from the Packers Thanksgiving game.

Aaron Rodgers is the NFL MVP, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com.

Playoff berth scenarios are summed up at Packer Report.

Josh Sitton's injury is covered at Packer Report and JSOnline.

Defensive lineman B.J. Raji is interviewed at JSOnline.

The Packer Insider section at JSOnline (sub required) has articles on the Packers' routine, former Packer Eddie Lee Ivery and a Giants preview.

A daily look at the Packers comes from Fox Sports.

The Packers released information on their sports and society conference in the spring.

A review of Jerry Kramer's Instant Replay appears at SportsRapport.com.

Video: Erik Walden will start, from NBC 26 in Green Bay...

Brian Carriveau is a writer for Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (7)

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john driscoll's picture

December 01, 2011 at 11:07 am

Pat Lee was sure to be fined for being tossed from the game, but what nonsense!! being mugged by 2 opponents long after whistle, at least no suspension, 15K seems to be on light side too..

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Evan's picture

December 01, 2011 at 11:15 am

Yeah, it was a BS ejection.

I'll still never understand football players attempting to punch another player...who has a helmet on!

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Sam's picture

December 01, 2011 at 11:54 am

I dont see how you can justify the fine. The scene basically looked like a mugging, 3 guys ganging up on one fairly far from the ball (lions may want to rethink that return blocking strategy). Lee probably should have gotten a flag but no more. The fine is excessive in my opinion and he has no prior history of personal foul problems like Nstompikong Stupid.

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Sam's picture

December 01, 2011 at 11:57 am

Even Aikman who I can't stand announcing packers games thought the ejection was unwarranted.

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john driscoll's picture

December 01, 2011 at 03:39 pm

also not a fan of Aikman, yet, he really despises Skip Bayless, so, he has a clue..

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Mojo's picture

December 01, 2011 at 01:23 pm

I can understand why they would fine Lee for throwing a punch, but how can the Lion blocker;Aaron Berry, escape without a fine after the tape clearly shows he threw the first punch. So Lee gets thrown out of the game and a fine while Berry gets to laugh about it on the sidelines with his teammates. Where's the justice?

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MarkinMadison's picture

December 01, 2011 at 01:49 pm

+1. The NFL needs to take that into account.

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