Colts linebacker Gary Brackett and Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork head the weekly list of players fined by the NFL for illegal hits.
Brackett was fined $35,000 for what was described as an “illegal blindside block” on Titans long snapper Ken Amato while the Colts were returning a missed field goal on the final play of the first half on Sunday.
I tweeted at the time that I wasn’t sure how to feel about it, and I’m still ambivalent about it: It was a brutal hit that gave Amato a concussion, but Amato was trying to tackle the Colts’ Antoine Bethea, and Brackett looked like he was legitimately trying to throw a block, not trying to light Amato up.
But Titans coach Jeff Fisher described the hit as “vicious,” and the league office apparently agrees with him.
Wilfork, this week’s Sports Illustrated cover boy, was fined $10,000 NFL for making helmet-to-helmet contact with Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne on a sack. Wilfork says he disagrees with the penalty and tried to lead with his shoulder when tackling Henne.
Also fined for the same game was Dolphins defensive lineman Paul Soliai, who has been docked $10,000 for hitting Patriots backup quarterback Brian Hoyer.