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Bennett Continues to "Foot The Bill" For Orange Cleats................
Chicago Bears
He likes orange: Bears WR Bennett foots bill for mounting fines
- NFL.com
- Published: Nov. 16, 2011 at 02:25 a.m.
- Liked: 0 | Comments: 76
Chicago Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett likes his bright orange cleats. He likes them so much, he's willing to donate part of his paychecks to the NFL in order to keep wearing them during games. Bennett was fined for wearing the shoes for a second straight game last Sunday against the Detroit Lions, and this time the fine was $10,000, double the $5,000 he was fined for wearing them in Week 9 against the Eagles.
Bennett told ESPN 1000 on Tuesday that the fines will continue to increase for future infractions, beginning with $15,000 this Sunday against San Diego, then $20,000 the next week. "After that I've heard that they are going to call (a) delay of game and maybe kick me out of the game," Bennett said.
So why continue to don the orange cleats, which the league views as a violation of its uniform policy? The Bears wore their alternate orange uniforms against the Lions, and the fourth-year wideout from Vanderbilt was hoping that would make the matching shoes permissible. He was wrong.
"All week I didn't practice in them," Bennett said. "Usually the shoe I practice in I normally play in, but they were in my locker and I asked (his teammates) 'Should I wear the orange shoes again?' One of them was like 'Most definitely, I'll take care of it.' So that's how it went down."
Bennett wouldn't say for sure whether or not he would wear the shoes again.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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that sucks. I was hoping he'd wear them until some team shut him down
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Just another example of how ridiculous Roger Gooddell and his uniform Nazi's are. If the Bears can were those gawd damn awful butt ugly orange jerseys why in the hell can't Bennett wear matching shoes?
Maybe they should use the fine money the collect to start hiring full time officials for games or at the very least give some better training to those they hire. The level of officiating sucks but we don't worry about that. We worry about orange shoes.
What gets me is the cavalier attitude of the teamate who said to go ahead and wear them, he'd take care of the fine. It must be nice to have an extra $10g's to toss around like it was an $80 traffice ticket. LOL
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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You mean Cutler footed the bill :)
And he is shutting it down :D
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Disgusting Orange jerseys? No problem.
Matching orange shoes? BAD BOY!! BAD!!
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Didn't say who but that would be my guess. There are a few more articles on this and I'll post them here.
Updated: November 16, 2011, 10:43 AM ET
Earl Bennett's cleats draw heavy fines
ESPNChicago.com
If the high price of fashion hasn't kept Chicago Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett from sporting the orange cleats he has worn in back-to-back wins, a possible ejection might.
Bears wideout Earl Bennett discussed his bright orange cleats with Jeff Dickerson during Tuesday's edition of "Football Night in Chicago."
More Podcasts »
Bennett's day-glow spikes made their season debut in Chicago's Week 10 victory in Philadelphia and were again on display in a winning effort this past Sunday. He was fined $5,000 the first time he wore them and was informed he will be fined $10,000 for this past week's violation of the league's uniform policy.
Bennett told ESPN 1000's "Football Night in Chicago," on Tuesday that the fine for wearing them this week against San Diego will be $15,000 and $20,000 the following week. "After that I've heard that they are going to call (a) delay of game and maybe kick me out of the game," Bennett said.
Bennett's cleats matched the Bears' alternate orange uniforms on Sunday. He was hoping, to no avail, that the improved color coordination could help him skirt a second league fine.
"They said it didn't go with the uniform, so it was a violation of the dress code," he said. (They can wear pink shoes to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness but orange shoes don't go with an orange jersey huh? What a bunch of anal pricks)
Get the latest Bears news from ESPN Chicago.com's Jeff Dickerson and Michael Wright. Blog
• Bears Center | ESPNChicago.com
• ESPN.com: NFC North
He was unsure up until game time if he would wear the cleats against Detroit but committed to them after encouragement from teammates.
"All week I didn't practice in them," Bennett said. "Usually the shoe I practice in I normally play in, but they were in my locker and I asked (his teammates) 'Should I wear the orange shoes again?' One of them was like 'Most definitely, I'll take care of it.' So that's how it went down."
Bennett was noncommittal about whether or not he would wear the festive spikes in Week 12. When asked about covering the mounting fines, he replied, "I'll be fine."
Bennett has 14 catches for 196 yards and a touchdown on the season. He missed five games due to a chest injury he suffered against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. (I suppose the NFL somehow thinks they must give him superhuman receiving skills and it creates a competitive disadvantage, LOL So it's ok to yank guys helmets but don't you dare wear orange shoes. What a bunch of losers the NFL is.)
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
soulman 
"They said it didn't go with the uniform, so it was a violation of the dress code," he said. (They can wear pink shoes to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness but orange shoes don't go with an orange jersey huh? What a bunch of anal pricks)
thats what makes this so humorous, i kind of understood the fine in the normal jersey, but in the orange jersey? really?
But hey...he wore them twice, and we won twice. Bam...good luck charm, hope he keeps wearing em
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Originally Posted by
Jimmors thats what makes this so humorous, i kind of understood the fine in the normal jersey, but in the orange jersey? really?
But hey...he wore them twice, and we won twice. Bam...good luck charm, hope he keeps wearing em
Well up until they threaten to toss him from a game yeah. That wouldn't be worth it if they actually have to power to do that. Years ago some players wore white shoes and some guys even wore hightops like Ken Margerum did and nobody bitched so what's the big deal. If the it wasn't one of the Bears primary team colors I could see it but it doesn't clash with the rest of the uni so what's the problem? Just more control from the No Fun League.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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They wont keep wearing them. Thought I heard Cutler say yesterday that they were done.
The fine doubles every week. 5K first time, 10K on Sunday...... next time will be 20K. Doubt Cutler will give Bennett the money again to cover his ass for the shoe bill
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Originally Posted by
soulman If the Bears can were those gawd damn awful butt ugly orange jerseys why in the hell can't Bennett wear matching shoes?
For some reason, those jerseys weren't as ugly on Sunday as I remember them being in the past. 
"Give 100%. 110% is impossible. Only idiots recommend that." - Ron Swanson
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