James Harrison Fined: Illegal Hit Video?

James Harrison was fined another $25,000 for a helmet-leading strike on Ryan Fitzpatrick in last Sunday’s 19-16 overtime win over the Bills. That raises Harrison’s 2010 fine total to $125,000 for four hit-related infractions.

The fine came one day after the NFL denied two appeals by Harrison for fines earlier this season. The league refused to diminish the $95,000 in fines levied on Harrison for two illegal hits in October.

Harrison was fined 20,000 dollars four weeks ago for a late hit on New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees in a 20-10 loss to the reigning Super Bowl champions.

Do you think the fine was correct? Is there a video of James Harrison's illegal hit?

My biggest issue with the illegal hit is how quickly the referee threw the flag. It hit the ground before the quarterback did, and it’s almost as if he was ready and waiting to throw it.
You can see the video of the illegal hit on ESPN.com.

It's not a clear penalty, but it's not definitely clean either. Harrison is by no means an innocent bystander in this. He brought this scrutiny upon himself with years of actual dirty play, high-profile condemnations of Roger Goodell's new policies and vows of defiance of new rules.

After the game, James Harrison said the play didn't warrant a fine. He compared it to his Nov. 21 roughing-the-passer penalty against Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell that did not draw a fine.

James Harrison previously was fined $75,000 for a helmet hit on Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, $20,000 for a helmet-to-the-back hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees and $5,000 for a hit on Titans quarterback Vince Young.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin suggested Harrison needs to alter his tackling style to conform to the NFL's stricter enforcement of dangerous hits.