Seahawks’ K.J. Wright plans to appeal $23K fine for hit on Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald

K.J. Wright plans to appeal the fine he received for his fourth-quarter hit on Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald on the same drive that ended with Wright forcing a fumble that Seattle returned for a touchdown.

Nov 20, 2015, 3:18 PM Updated: 3:22 pm

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"(Larry Fitzgerald) got up laughing, so what are you fining me for?" K.J. Wright said of his fine-inducing hit. (AP)

(AP)

RENTON – Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright plans to appeal the $23,152 fine he received from the NFL for his hit last Sunday on Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

The hit occurred in the fourth quarter, on the same Arizona drive that ended with Wright forcing a fumble that teammate Bobby Wagner returned for a touchdown. Three plays earlier, Wright was flagged for unnecessary roughness after leveling Fitzgerald as the receiver was coming across the middle.

Coach Pete Carroll said earlier in the week that he felt the hit was a little too high. Wright agreed but said it was not intentional.

Asked if the league is being any more or less strict on those types of hits this season, Wright said: “No, it’s been the same. I got fined a couple times last year. It’s all been the same – you just get fined a ridiculous amount of money for stuff you don’t even try to do. It is what it is.”

Wright said he apologized immediately after the hit to Fitzgerald, who popped up off the ground with a smile on his face.

“He got up laughing, so what are you fining me for?” Wright said. “Dude was laughing. He wasn’t even hurt. What are you fining me for? Everybody should be good. You should only get fined if you hurt somebody. That’s what I say. Whatever.”

Wright said he hopes the fine is at least reduced upon appeal.

The process of appealing an NFL-levied fine includes a hearing with one of the league’s appeals officers – former linebacker Derrick Brooks and former wide receiver James Thrash – during which the player states his case.

Wright said he’s been fined seven times in his career and that most have been either reduced or dropped entirely.