Chris Cook Fined $26,250 For Touching Official, Will Appeal

Dec 1, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) catches a touchdown pass over Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook (20) during the third quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Cook is going to be scrambling for gift money this Christmas season after being hit with a stiff fine by the NFL. On Sunday, Cook was flagged and ejected for making contact with side judge Laird Hayes in the wake of an Alshon Jeffery TD catch. Wednesday Cook learned he will be docked $26,250 by the NFL for the infraction.

Cook says he will appeal the fine.

The altercation with the official happened after Cook had been burned twice by Jeffery for long TD catches. But according to Cook he was actually upset about a third play where he had a chance at an interception but Jeffery broke the play up. Cook lobbied for an offensive interference call on that play but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Rather than get over it, Cook carried his anger about that non-call further into the game and it boiled over after the second TD to Jeffery. Cook got in Hayes’ face, making contact with the official and being thrown out of the game.

Leslie Frazier was clearly not happy with Cook in the wake of the incident, saying he would talk to Cook about keeping his composure in such situations.

The lesson seems to have sunk in for Cook who said on Wednesday, “I can’t really do anything about the calls that they make within the game and I’ve just got to be a man about it and just move onto the next play.”

I’m guessing the fine also played a part in Cook re-assessing his attitude toward bad calls.

Cook was expected to be the Vikings’ #1 cornerback coming into this season but his play has fallen far short of expectations and now the prevailing belief is that Cook and his zero career interceptions will be playing elsewhere in 2014.

Like The Viking Age on Facebook.
Follow TVA on Twitter.
Subsribe to the Fansided Daily Newsletter. Sports news all up in your inbox.