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Seahawks' Richardson: $18K fine for hit on Drew Stanton is 'extortion'

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson believes he's being taken advantage of by force after being fined $18,231 for a hit on Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton during a Nov. 9 win.

Richardson plans to appeal the fine and expressed his disgust in no uncertain terms Friday.

"It’s kind of just extortion really," Richardson said, via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. “Guy pushes you in the back and trips you on the play and you are catching your balance the whole time and then you just happen, I don’t know. They said ‘avoid him,’ but he still has the ball. It’s like what do you do?"

Richardson said he had no intention of hitting Stanton low. Stanton suffered a sprained knee and Blaine Gabbert will start Sunday against the Houston Texans as a result.

"There is no way you should be taking any of my money because it wasn’t a dirty hit,’’ Richardson said. “I didn’t try to hit him in the legs or nothing and once again people fail to realize it’s still football. Pretty sure they are just fining guys for every personal foul and not even looking at the film and not even making the consideration of did I try to avoid the guy.’’

It doesn't appear likely that the league office will agree with Richardson's vantage point upon appeal.

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