Green Bay’s Clay Matthews fined for ‘dirty hit’ that broke Bears QB Brian Hoyer’s left arm

Ouch: Packers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers crush Bears QB Brian Hoyer; the play broke Hoyer's left arm. (AP)
Ouch: Packers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers crush Bears QB Brian Hoyer; the play broke Hoyer’s left arm. (AP)

Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews may have knocked Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer out of the teams’ Thursday night game on Oct. 20, impacting one of the Packers’ biggest rivals, but it also cost him.Matthews has been fined $18,231 for the hit that broke Hoyer’s left arm, after the NFL determined Matthews led with the crown of his helmet on the play. He was not flagged for the hit during the game.Matthews and Julius Peppers sandwiched Hoyer on the tackle.Hoyer was placed on injured reserve and underwent surgery to repair the arm, and is expected to be out for 6-8 weeks.

The Bears have announced they will present special “Rings of Excellence” to Gale Sayers, Dick Butkus, Richard Dent and Dan Hampton during halftime of Monday night’s game against the Vikings