Report: Patriots' Thomas will appeal NFL fine

Published Sep. 19, 2009 2:16 p.m. EDT

foxsports

Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas was fined $5,000 by the National Football League after a review of his roughing-the-passer penalty in Monday's opening victory according to a published report.

Thomas wrapped Bills quarterback Trent Edwards before bringing him to the ground in the 25-24 victory and was penalized on the play. The Boston Globe reported Saturday that Thomas received a notification from the league that he was being fined for slamming Edwards to the ground after the whistle.

Thomas said he didn't hear the whistle and wanted to prevent Edwards from scrambling.

"I'll appeal it and just go from there,'' Thomas told the paper. "I don't know, either you got to have a fast whistle or the guy is going to get taken to the ground. I didn't think I slammed him to the ground, nothing like that."

The penalty helped keep alive a Bills drive that resulted in a touchdown and a 24-13 lead with 5:32 to play.

"I didn't do anything intentional," Thomas said.

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