NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Titans safety Michael Griffin s said Wednesday the NFL has fined him $21,000 for his hit on New York Jets receiver Stephen Hill, which Griffin calls the consequence of going high.
Griffin said Wednesday he appealed the fine as soon as he received it.
He hit Hill after Alterraun Verner intercepted the pass intended for the Jets receiver on New York's second offensive play in last week's 38-13 Titans' win. Hill left the game and did not return with a concussion.
Griffin read off the letter from the NFL, saying he was fined for unnecessarily striking a defenseless player in the head and neck area.
"I go low you know somebody makes the catch over the middle,'' Griffin said. "The tight end makes the catch over the middle I go low. Then this week I go high, even though Vern got the interception. This is the consequence you get for going high.''
Griffin said he's trying to figure out how Hill is defenseless on an interception. Griffin showed a photo of the hit on his cellphone, noting he hit Hill on the left shoulder.
"You watch the play, slow-mo. it, I didn't hit him,'' Griffin said. "I hit him in his left shoulder, and it's impossible for me to hit him in his neck because he's looking to the right and I hit his left shoulder.''
Titans coach Mike Munchak said apparently the ruling was hitting a defenseless player.
"I'm waiting to hear on how they ruled on some of the stuff we're waiting to hear on hits on our guys,'' Munchak said. "Yeah, that's tough.''
Muhammad Wilkerson and Quinton Couples hit Titans quarterback Jake Locker in the third quarter after he threw a pass, and now Locker is expected to miss a few weeks with a sprained right hip and knee.
