National Football League

Knighton fined $25K for hit on Luck

Published Nov. 16, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

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Jacksonville defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, Kansas City linebacker Tamba Hali and New England LB Brandon Spikes were fined $25,000 each by the NFL on Friday for hits in recent games.

Knighton was fined for making helmet-to-helmet contact with Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who was defenseless at the time. The hit came in Indianapolis' victory Nov. 8 at Jacksonville and negated an interception by Aaron Ross.

Hali was docked for striking Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich with his helmet.

Spikes got a roughing-the-passer penalty on Buffalo QB Ryan Fitzpatrick that drew the fine. He hit Fitzpatrick with his helmet. The players later jawed at each other and after the Patriots' win, Fitzpatrick called Spikes ''a punk.''

In all, 17 players drew fines Friday for their actions in Week 10 games.

Oakland linebacker Aaron Curry was given two fines: $15,750 for striking Baltimore RB Ray Rice late, and $7,875 for unnecessary roughness on a special teams play. Raiders LB Phillip Wheeler was fined $7,875 for unnecessary roughness when he grabbed Rice by the facemask.

Fined $21,000 were 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Rams quarterback Sam Bradford last Sunday, and Minnesota linebacker Jasper Brinkley for a helmet hit on a defenseless Lions receiver Calvin Johnson.

AFC players fined that amount were Broncos LB Von Miller for striking Carolina QB Cam Newton below the knee; and Colts defensive end Jerry Hughes for a late hit on Jacksonville QB Blaine Gabbert.

Docked $15,750 were Cincinnati LB Rey Maulaluga for striking defenseless Giants WR Dominek Hixon in the head and neck area; and Denver DT Kevin Vickerson for a horse-collar tackle on Newton.

Jaguars safety Dawan Landry was fined $10,000 for a fourth-quarter hit on Luck that made contact to the head and neck area after Luck declared himself down by sliding feet first. Lions receiver Ryan Broyles was fined $10,000 for an illegal crackback block on Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield.

Others docked $10,000 were Patriots LB Jerod Mayo for a late hit on Bills RB C.J. Spiller when he was out of bounds; and Dolphins guard Richie Incognito for striking Tennessee LB Colin McCarthy late. Incognito was benched for a few plays by Dolphins coach Joe Philbin after the incident.

Justin Houston of Kansas City was fined $7,875 for unsportsmanlike conduct when he began a group celebration in the end zone. Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard lost the same amount for hitting Fitzpatrick out of bounds.