Jarvis Landry fined $24,000 for hit Rex Ryan called ‘dirty’

Oftentimes, linemen and linebackers are the ones who get fined for dirty hits. But this week, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry is joining those infamous ranks.

The NFL fined Landry $24,309 this week for an apparent headshot on Buffalo Bills safety Aaron Williams according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The questionable hit came while Landry was blocking on a running play. He says he apologized to Williams during the game, telling reporters he could take the hit back if he could.

Landry continued to plead his case Wednesday.

Bills head coach Rex Ryan chimed in Monday, calling the block “dirty.” He also said he wishes the NFL would eject players for targeting an opponent’s head, just like the NCAA.

NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino weighed in on Tuesday and said it was an illegal hit, but didn’t warrant an automatic ejection.

“He is going to go to the head-neck. It is certainly a foul,” Blandino said on NFL Total Access. “It is certainly something that we’ll review for potential discipline, but it’s still a football play, and it’s tough to read intent there. That’s why the officials kept him in the game. It’s not an automatic ejection. It’s up to the discretion of the crew and they didn’t feel like it was flagrant enough to throw the player out of the game.”

The Bills also called out the cheap shot on Twitter Sunday. Williams suffered a season-ending neck injury in 2015, which might explain why Landry’s hit generated so much outcry.

Thursday, Williams’ father told the Associated Press that his son would determine whether or not he would continue his football career after the latest neck injury. The AP says that Williams will discuss it with his family to “make the best decision that’s right for him.”

This is the third time Landry has been fined during his career. He was slapped with an $8,268 penalty in 2014 for an excessive facemask and $23,152 last October for verbally abusing an official.