Ravens linebacker Jameel McClain is going to appeal the hefty $40,000 fine he was levied by the NFL for his hit on tight end Heath Miller last weekend.
McClain was docked for hitting the head of a defenseless receiver, according to an NFL spokesman.
“Rules are rules,” McClain said on Wednesday. “We will appeal it, and see where it goes from there.”
Miller sustained a concussion after McClain’s bone-crushing smack in the third quarter of the Ravens’ 13-10 loss. Miller did not return to the game and is not expected to play on Sunday.
McClain said his intent was never to hurt Miller.
“First and foremost, you never want that type of play to happen in football in general, because those are horrible types of plays,” McClain explained. “Basically, I was just a man going and trying to make a play. I was within the strike zone. I was going the way I was taught to proceed in the game throughout my whole life.
“I was just trying to get between him and the ball. With him falling down, it ended up the way it ended up.”
The fine represents a large chunk out of McClain’s reported $470,000 salary.
Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said on his weekly radio show that he was “shocked” at the size of the fine, and McClain’s teammates were quick to defend him in the locker room.
“He’s a first-time offender,” said Harbaugh. “Jameel, there was nothing he [could] do. I think the league understands that. I can’t imagine why they fined him so much.
“Jameel tried to go low. He did everything humanly possible to hit the tight end low. You fine a guy $40,000 for trying to apply the rule. He tried to do something that’s against the rule of physics. I say you’re taking someone’s money unfairly.”
Added safety Ed Reed: “You still have to look into what a guy makes and how you’re going to affect him, because at the end of the day they’re coming down on this, and the CBA’s about to come up. You’re taking finances out of a guy’s pocket trying to hurt him even worse. Come lockout or something, now you’re asking those guys to step to the other side? You can’t do that.”
McClain wasn’t sure if he would change his approach to the game in light of his current situation.
“I don’t know if it changes the way I play,” McClain said. “You’ve got to play this game physical. You’ve got to play this game fast. I don’t think anybody on this team or in this league is trying to hurt anybody.”
Meanwhile, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata declined an interview request about the $15,000 fine he received for a striking Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s head with his hand, a hit that broke Roethlisberger’s nose.
“Ben needs to wear a lineman facemask and then he won’t get hit in the nose like that,” said defensive tackle Kelly Gregg. “There was no ill will on both those plays. Maybe Ben’s a little better looking now with his nose.”