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Smith fined for Welker hit

Print | Comments () Posted by Shalise Manza Young, Globe Staff September 24, 2010 03:42 PM

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The NFL has fined Jets' safety Eric Smith $7500 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Wes Welker in the first quarter of last Sunday's game.

Smith was penalized for the hit, and the fine is for unnecessary roughness, specifically for striking a defenseless receiver.

Earlier this week, Bill Belichick expressed his displeasure with the hit, while Welker felt it was not malicious on the safety's part.

"Eric came up to me during and after the game and apologized and everything else," Welker said. "He didn't mean to. It was just trying to make a physical football play, and that's what it came down to. I don't have any ill feelings about that play or anything else."

No Patriots players were fined by the league this week.