Bears star cornerback Kyle Fuller has been penalized six times this season, including two personal fouls for unnecessary roughness, and been fined $25,000. But the NFL deemed his controversial hit on Panthers wide receiver Keith Kirkwood not worthy of a fine, a source said.
With the Bears up 10-3 late in the second quarter, Kirkwood caught a 12-yard pass going across the middle before Fuller blasted him and knocked the ball loose for an incompletion.
Fuller immediately protested the call because he hit Kirkwood shoulder-to-shoulder, as the replay confirmed, and it appears the league agrees with him that it should not have been a penalty.
Fuller said Saturday he thought it was called incorrectly.
The only other significant penalty in the game was Panthers defensive end Efe Obada drawing a flag for roughing the passer on Nick Foles that added 13 yards to a 23-yard pass from Foles to Allen Robinson. Obada apparently was flagged for hitting Foles high and driving him to the ground, but he was not fined, a source said.
