Mike Wright Fined $5,000 for Roughing Joe Flacco

After Sunday's game, the Ravens were the ones barking about the rules regarding protecting the quarterback. This week, it's a member of the Patriots who is being forced to open his wallet.

Ray Lewis and Co. weren't fined for complaining, and they weren't fined for the infractions themselves, but Patriots defensive lineman Mike Wright was fined $5,000 by the league for his "hit" to the head of quarterback Joe Flacco.

During the play in question, Wright got his hand on Flacco's shoulder before it slipped under the facemask of the quarterback (photo here). Wright was flagged for unnecessary roughness.

”I looked over the film last night, and it was tough because I was going for his shoulder, and it slipped off and kind of tapped his facemask, but it wasn’t anything intentional," Wright told the Boston Herald. "It wasn’t like I was that desperate where I was trying to bring him down. It’s just tough. It’s tough to swallow. I’m just out there trying to get a big guy [6-foot-6, 230 pounds] down.”

The play on which Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs was flagged for roughing the passer appeared to have a bit more intention, as the 260-pounder dove at the knee of Tom Brady. That play became the center of much debate this week, with many saying the calls protecting the quarterback are out of control.

Wright's fine cements that argument.

”It’s tough,” Wright explained to the Herald when asked how difficult it is to make sacks but avoid penalties. ”For it to be called so tightly right now, it’s hard. Guys aren’t playing the way they want to play. In my second sack, I was thinking, that’s why I kept him up. I could have brought him down. But I’m not risking another penalty. It’s not worth it. I’d rather just get the sack and be done with it."

The NFL's head of officiating, Mike Pereira, addressed the criticism on his weekly show, Official Review, on the NFL Network.

"I will support that [call], because we have set a target for players [when hitting quarterbacks], and that target essentially is below the neck and above the knees," Pereira said. "And when that area gets challenged, when there is contact below the knees, that's something we are going to support because we want players in the game."

Wright, who is making about $600,000 this season, still struggles with the execution of that idea.

”It’s tough because we’re not out there trying to hurt those guys," he told the Herald. "We’re just trying to play football.”