The NFL fined Cortland Finnegan $10,000 for an incident involving Denver Broncos offensive lineman Chris Kuper last weekend and warned the Tennessee Titans cornerback that further infractions of this type could lead to increased disciplinary action.
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Finnegan, who hit Kuper after the guard's helmet was off during Denver's 26-20 victory at Tennessee, has been fined $20,000 for infractions in the past three games. He was assessed $5,000 for plays against the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Finnegan, who wasn't penalized on last weekend's play, Â claimed he did nothing wrong, but Broncos quarterback Kyle Ortonsingled out the cornerback as a "cheap" player.
"When we've got Chris Kuper with his helmet off, getting punched, it's ridiculous," Orton told reporters after the game. "If that's the type of player Cortland Finnegan wants to be, well then he's a cheap player, he's not a good player."
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels agreed that the Titans were out of line.
"After watching the film, I'd say (Orton's comments) were accurate," McDaniels told *The Denver Post* on Monday. "Our guys did a great job of keeping our poise and composure and not getting into an unsportsmanlike conduct type of game. ... There's a way to play tough and physical without being dirty."
Titans coach Jeff Fishercontended that his team doesn't play dirty. It just plays hard.
"You don't hear comments out of teams that are familiar with us along those lines ... from the Texans or anybody else in the division," Fisher said Wednesday. "It's just kind of one of those things that happened, and we're done with it. We're going to play hard, and if someone doesn't like the way we play, then so be it."
Finnegan, a former Pro Bowl pick who's in his fifth NFL season, has 24 total tackles and one sack this season.
Other fines assessed by the NFL this week:
» New Orleans Saints linebacker Marvin Mitchell was hit for $10,000 for a major facemask penalty against the Carolina Panthers.
» Philadelphia Eagles safety Quintin Mikell was fined $7,500 for a horse-collar tackle on Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss.
» Giants linebacker Jonathan Goff was fined $7,500 for helmet-to-helmet contact with Chicago Bears quarterback Todd Collins and $5,000 for unnecessary roughness.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
