FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – Brandon Meriweather said Wednesday he is sorry for his helmet-on-helmet hit on Todd Heap, and the New England Patriots safety promised to “play within the rules” from now on.
Meriweather picked up a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness in Sunday’s game after hitting the Baltimore Ravens tight end in the head in the second quarter – a play Heap called “One of those hits that shouldn’t happen.” On Tuesday, Meriweather was fined $50,000 as part of the NFL’s crackdown on dangerous play.
“I’m sorry for the hit,” Meriweather said Wednesday. “I understand the league is trying to protect the health of all our players.”
Meriweather arrived at his locker at 12:57 p.m., 42 minutes into the Patriots’ 45-minute open locker room period. Team spokesman Stacey James said Meriweather would make a statement but not take questions.
“I’m going to try my best to play within the rules, like my coach had always taught us,” Meriweather said. “I’m going to hit and play the game like my coaches have always taught us. Even in training camp, we have always been taught the proper way to hit. Just focus on that and try to put it in my game in some way, shape or fashion.”
The Patriots play the Chargers in San Diego on Sunday.
“To be honest, I just want all this to go away,” Meriweather said. “I want to focus, with the rest of my team, on the Chargers and really not let this come up again. … From here on, I’m focusing on the Chargers. Anything else spoken about this, I will not comment on.”
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