NEW YORK (AP) — Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt has been fined $20,054 by the NFL for his hit on Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, and the Steelers linebacker says he will appeal it.
Watt rolled into the right leg of Ryan during the Steelers' 41-17 victory last Sunday and was called for roughing the passer. Watt, who had three sacks and was named the AFC defensive player of the week, said earlier in the week that he pulled his hands off the quarterback, and that can be seen in the film.
Houston's J.J. Watt, T.J.'s older brother, tweeted "That is insanity" and "$20,000 for this?!?!?" when news of the fine began to leak.
Other players fined $20,054 on Saturday for illegal hits on quarterbacks included the Jets' Brandon Copeland, San Francisco's K'Waun Williams, Indianapolis' Najee Goode, Oakland's Bruce Irvin and Baltimore's Tony Jefferson.
Oakland's Arden Key was docked $26,739 for unnecessary roughness in the Raiders' loss to the Los Angles Chargers.
Cincinnati's Michael Johnson (unnecessary roughness) was one of several players fined $10,026 by the league for various infractions. Others were Kansas City's Kareem Hunt (unsportsmanlike conduct), Dee Ford (unsportsmanlike conduct) and Chris Jones (unnecessary roughness); Atlanta's Foyesade Oluokun (unnecessary roughness); Green Bay's Tony Brown (unsportsmanlike conduct); Miami's Martrell Spaith (unsportsmanlike conduct); and New Orleans' Michael Thomas (unsportsmanlike conduct).
