Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis has been fined $25,000 by the NFL for two separate plays against the Bengals last Sunday.
Ravens linebacker fined $25,000 by NFL for Bengals incidents
Ray Lewis has been fined $25,000 by the NFL for two separate plays during the final quarter of the Baltimore Ravens' 17-14 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals on October 11.
The league deemed that Lewis "unnecessarily kicked the opponent" and later "unnecessarily struck a defenceless receiver".
During the latter play, Lewis hit Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco after a pass from Carson Palmer sailed incomplete and the subsequent 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness helped set up the winning touchdown with 22 seconds remaining.
Ochocinco lost his helmet during the collision but immediately regained his feet and, after the game, used his
Twitter account to ask NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for leniency.
"Please don't fine Ray Lewis Mr. Roger Goodell, it was a clean hit, it's part of the game, save the fines for me," Ochocinco wrote.
Asked on Wednesday if he expected to be fined, Lewis replied: "Probably."
No regrets
"If I had to change anything, I would do it the same way I've done it," he added.
"I will never slow down my speed, the way I play this game. I've never played this game to hurt anybody.
"But the bottom line is, when I turn to go, I'm like a missile. When I'm locked in, I'm locked in. Whatever's there is there.
"Worrying about fines and all that, I'll let that take care of itself. The NFL does a great job with that. You call them and discuss it with them."
The Ravens said Lewis will appeal.
