Falcons rookie says fine for hit on Jordan Matthews was reduced on appeal

Atlanta Falcons rookie strong safety Keanu Neal told ESPN he had a $24,309 fine for an illegal hit cut in half after going through the NFL's appeals process.

Neal received the fine after the league initially determined he hit defenseless Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthewsin Week 10. Neal was not flagged, but the Eagles publicly complained about the play.

Neal's hearing was Nov. 29 with former NFL wide receiver James Thrash -- formerly of the Eagles.

"My agent was telling me yesterday, and basically it's like $12,000-something now,'' Neal said of the reduced fine. "That's really helpful. That's a good feeling, because it sucks getting fined like that. But to get some back is always a good thing.''

In that Week 10 contest, Matthews was the target on a third-and-12 crossing route with 10:56 remaining in the game. As the ball arrived, so did Neal, who delivered a punishing hit. After the game, which the Eagles won 24-15, Matthews made it clear he was not happy with the non-call.

"I definitely think it was a penalty,'' Matthews said. "My helmet was bent. I had to get a new face mask. I had to change out my face mask and my visor. I don't know what they saw, but at the end of the day, we got the win. So I will take a bloody lip if we get a win.''

Neal's plea to Thrash was a simple one.

"That it was a close game and I wasn't attempting to hit him in the helmet,'' Neal said. "I was just playing ball. I was just trying to make the play. I was leading with my shoulder and everything. That's really all I said. [Thrash] was pretty chill about it.''

Neal, the first-round draft pick from Florida, has delivered a number of crushing hits already this season, including one against Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, forwhich he was flagged for a defenseless hit. The league appears to have viewed it as a clean hit, however, as Neal was not fined.

Falcons coach Dan Quinn has spoken to Neal about lowering the strike zone but said he is not concerned that the rookie is a dirty player.

"He's a factor in terms of the way that he hits, but he does so not with the intent of using his head," Quinn said. "We're trying to shoulder tackle, but doing it the very hardest way possible to know that when you come inside, he's going to hit you. And we're going to hit you in the right spot. But it's going to be physical."