Titans safety Michael Griffin said last week that he felt like he didn’t know how to play defense in the NFL, because everyone tells you your job is to deliver big hits — right up until the point when the NFL docks your pay for delivering a big hit.
Well, guess what? This week Griffin has been fined for delivering a big hit.
Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean reports that Griffin was fined $21,000 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness for a hit on Vikings receiver Michael Jenkins during the Titans’ loss to the Vikings on Sunday. Griffin picked up a 15-yard penalty on the play.
Griffin says he’s not sure what the NFL wants from players, but he knows the NFL is watching him.
“The fine could double, or you could get a one-game suspension if the league thinks you didn’t learn your lesson,” Griffin said. “It puts you in a tough spot. But you just have to play and try not to worry about it.”
Griffin echoes the opinions that we’ve heard from dozens of other players in the NFL: You’re supposed to play tough, physical football. But if your play becomes too tough or too physical, it’s going to cost you.