Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict fined $21,000 by the NFL

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was fined $21,000 by the NFL on Friday for hitting a player with the crown of his helmet last week against the New York Jets (league fines are usually issued the Friday after the game's were played, except for Thursday Night Football).

We believe that the fine was issued on Burfict's hit during the first play in the fourth quarter while the Bengals were enjoying a 42-9 lead. Geno Smith hit Stephen Hill underneath on second and 21 around the Jets 20-yard line. Hill was held up by Adam Jones and Burfict wiped him out.

According to Joe Reedy with the Cincinnati Enquirer, Burfict has accumulated $59,875 in fines this year while playing on a 2013 base salary of $480,000 -- or 12.5 percent of his scheduled salary in 2013. The NFL has Burfict with four personal fouls (three unnecessary roughness penalties and a personal foul against the Jets) and a fifth if you're including 15-yard face mask penalties.