BEREA, Ohio (AP) – Browns rookie safety T.J. Ward hopes he doesn’t have to worry about retaliation when he plays the Bengals on Sunday.
Ward’s vicious hit on Cincinnati rookie wide receiver Jordan Shipley on Oct. 3 helped set the stage for the NFL’s crackdown on helmet-to-helmet contact. Ward was fined $15,000 for his blow to a defenseless Shipley in the fourth quarter of Cleveland’s win. Shipley was briefly knocked unconscious and sustained a concussion.
Ward, who maintains he led with his shoulder, said he may try to speak with Shipley before the game and explain that he wasn’t trying to hurt him. Ward knows Cincinnati fans won’t be understanding and he expects to be treated rudely as the Browns (5-8) try to sweep the Bengals (2-11).
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