Tennessee Titans safety Bernard Pollard has been handed a £6,500 fine by the NFL for a late hit out of bounds in the club's pre-season opening match against Washington Redskins.
Pollard gave away a 15-yard penalty at the time and although insisting that the hit was clean, the league has decided to slap him with a fine.
"I don't think [it was a bad hit]," he told The Tennessean. "You have to look at for me, as a defender, I am already coming in and already going in to make the hit, so I don't see his other foot go out. He was in bounds and his other foot finally went out.
"For me as a defender, I am going to make the hit. I am going to hit you. There have been times I have been late and there have been times when I've had solid hits but for me, I can't worry about whether the league is going to fine me or not.
"Because I am going to play football and try and help this team win and I am going to bring a physical presence every time out."
Pollard managed 98 combined tackles last season for the Baltimore Ravens.
Matt Domm
