National Football League

Steelers' Mundy fined $10,000 for late hit

Published Dec. 17, 2009 6:23 a.m. ET

foxsports

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Mundy is appealing a $10,000 fine for a late hit on Oakland wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins that led to the Raiders' winning touchdown on Dec. 6.

Mundy drew an 11-yard unnecessary roughness penalty for slamming into Higgins on an incomplete pass during Oakland's final drive. The penalty gave Oakland a first down at the Pittsburgh 11 with 21 seconds remaining. One play later, Bruce Gradkowski threw a touchdown pass to Louis Murphy for a 27-24 victory.

Mundy contends it wasn't a helmet-to-helmet hit, as the NFL states in the letter notifying him of the fine.

Three plays before the penalty, Steelers cornerback William Gay sustained a concussion when accidentally struck by Mundy as the two were covering a 19-yard catch by Murphy.