National Football League

Bucs' Goldson avoids suspension

Published Sep. 30, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

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Dashon Goldson won't be suspended for his hit on Cardinals receiver Jaron Brown, but the Tampa Bay safety could be fined.

Merton Hanks, the NFL's vice president of football operations, said Monday the play that occurred in Sunday's game is being re-examined for a helmet-to-helmet hit, but it won't warrant a suspension.

Any fine figures to be hefty after Goldson was docked $100,000 for a hit on Saints running back Darren Sproles earlier this season. Originally, Goldson was suspended for one game, but that suspension was overturned on appeal by hearing officer Matt Birk, a former NFL center.

Since the 2009 season, Goldson has been called for a league-high 16 personal fouls. He joined the Buccaneers from the 49ers as a free agent this season.

Goldson, an All-Pro last year, was fined $30,000 for a hit on Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland in Week 1 this season. If his suspension without pay for helmet-to-helmet contact on Sproles on Sept. 15 had been upheld, it would have cost him $264,705 in salary.

On Sunday, Goldson was flagged for unnecessary roughness for a hit above the shoulders on Brown, who made a leaping 19-yard catch and was in a defenseless position when he was struck along the sideline. The penalty moved the ball to the Bucs 9, setting up Arizona's go-ahead field goal in a 13-10 victory.

''Totally illegal, just like he always does,'' Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. ''Obviously, money doesn't affect him. $100,000 fine? There could have been three in that game.''

Goldson wasn't available for comment on Monday.

After the game, the safety said he was trying to abide league rules and ''not cost my team while trying to not get suspended at the same time.''

''I'm not worried, I'm a little frustrated about the loss right now,'' Goldson said Sunday.

''If they think about suspending me, at the same time, I'm sitting here trying to win a game for my football team,'' he added. ''I don't know what they expect me to do in a situation like that, with a guy coming down, trying to get him out of bounds before he touches the ground.''

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