The NFL has fined official Jim Quirk a game check -- $8,150 -- for inappropriate contact with Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett on Sunday.
Quirk was summoned to NFL offices Friday to meet with commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson. In determining the penalty, the league took into account previous incidents, including Quirk's contact Dec. 16 with Atlanta Falcons fullback Jason Snelling on a kickoff return.
Goodell has informed Barnett and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy of the punishment. Barnett's agent, Chuck Price, who had planned to file a grievance with the NFL over Quirk's behavior, told ESPN's Chris Mortensen, "This action is more than satisfactory. There is now no reason to pursue a grievance."
Quirk aggressively grabbed Barnett around the neck and pulled him to the ground during Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. McCarthy was critical of Quirk following the incident.
"I'll tell you what, I've never seen anything like that in all my years," McCarthy said. "I didn't see the whole thing but I thought the official was totally out of line the way he grabbed Nick around the neck and pulled him out of there.
"There was a lot going on throughout the game on both sides of the ball after the play was over. Their offensive line was getting after Nick a bunch down the stretch. And that goes on in these types of games. I didn't see all of it but I saw the end of it. I thought it was totally unprofessional. I thought it was totally out of hand," McCarthy said.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello has said McCarthy would not be disciplined for his remarks.
Neither Barnett nor McCarthy was available for comment Friday
afternoon.
"
Our organization has already addressed that issue and moved on
to the Detroit game," Packers spokesman Jeff Blumb said.
Chris Mortensen covers the NFL for ESPN. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.