By Tim Graham
The NFL fined a pair of New England Patriots linebackers and a cornerback for transgressions committed against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday.
The league zapped Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes $25,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit of Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in the fourth quarter. The blast knocked off Fitzpatrick's helmet and led to a heated exchange on the field.
"Spikes is an emotional player," Fitzpatrick said after the game. "I think he's a punk at times. He took a cheap shot at Scott in the first game and was doing a lot of jabbering and talking and hitting out there.
"He's not one of my favorite players, not high on my list. ... I think it's important to make sure you don't back down from anybody."
Spikes previously got fined $10,000 for an illegal blindside hit on Bills tight end Scott Chandler during an interception return in Week Four.
The NFL also fined Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard $7,875 for an out-of-bounds hit on Fitzpatrick in the second quarter and linebacker Jerod Mayo $10,000 for his out-of-bounds tackle of Bills running back C.J. Spiller in the fourth quarter.
