Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway delivered a brutal helmet-to-helmet hit to Lions receiver Calvin Johnson on Sunday, and he’s paying for it.
Greenway has been fined $21,000, the NFL confirmed.
After the game Greenway acknowledged that he was in the wrong and that he expected to be fined.
“Obviously, I didn’t mean any intent to hurt him or anything,” Greenway said. “I was just trying to play the game. Once I saw he was in a vulnerable position, I tried to pull off a little late. I’m glad he wasn’t hurt and I hope he’s good.”
Greenway put his hands on his head and backed away after drilling Johnson, which he said was an attempt to show that he wasn’t trying anything dirty, although in reality it probably just made the helmet-to-helmet hit more obvious.
“It made it look like I was really guilty, which is fine,” Greenway said. “I was guilty, I hit him. I was trying to [show] that I didn’t finish the hit, I tried to pull off. [It’s] just something about being a defensive player in the NFL right now. That’s what it’s going to be. So you’ve got to expect it.”
Johnson was checked for a concussion after the hit, but he was OK and returned to the game.