Colts' Mathis fined for helmet-to-helmet hit on Jags' Garrard

Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Mathis was fined an undisclosed amount by the NFL for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard in last Sunday's game.

Mathis tweeted about the fine Wednesday night.

"I didn't even think about it until (Wednesday) when my agent called me," Mathis said, according to The Indianapolis Star. "I was just trying to swat the ball away. He pumped it and I was trying to get the ball out."

Mathis said the fine won't change his playing style.

"If you change the way you've been taught to play football, you won't have a job," he said. "If you continue to play the way you've been taught to play, you're going to get fined. It's a double-edged sword."

Garrard was 24-of-38 passing for 294 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in the Jaguars' 34-24 loss. He become Jacksonville's single-season leader in touchdown passes with 22.

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Agent: Vikings' Winfield fined $17,500 for hit, uniform violation

The NFL fined Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield a total of $17,500 this week for a uniform violation and a hit on Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, agent Ashanti Webb told the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Thursday.

Winfield plans to appeal the $7,500 fine for the hit on Cutler. Webb said Winfield tried to pull up to avoid a helmet-to-helmet hit.

The $10,000 uniform infraction apparently involved the height of Winfield's socks, according to the newspaper.

Winfield incurred the fine for contact on a Monday night play on which he blitzed Cutler. The 5-foot-9 Winfield's helmet struck the 6-foot-3 Cutler in the chin as he wrapped up the quarterback while they fell.

Cutler received three stitches to close the wound, but he returned and led the Bears to a 40-14 victory that clinched the NFC North title for Chicago.

Winfield has long been known as one of the NFL's most physical cornerbacks. But he is rarely fined for hits and is considered among the league's most fundamentally sound tacklers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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