Miami Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon is being fined for his hit last Sunday on Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, which will cause him to miss Sunday's game against the Falcons.
According to Yahoo Sports, Mariota suffered a grade-2 MCL sprain, which typically results in a 2-3-week recovery period. Zach Mettenberger, who started six games as a rookie for the Titans in 2014, will replace Mariota against the Falcons on Sunday. It's not known if Mariota will miss more time beyond that.
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Vernon apologized to Mariota after the game. He also claimed that the hit -- which was low and which angered Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt -- was not dirty. But the league ruled that Vernon deserved to be fined, according to a tweet by ESPN's Ed Werder.
Dolphins interim coach Dan Campbell says he told Vernon he's not a dirty player.
"I just told him that I know he's not a dirty player. I know who he is and I saw the play," he said. "He's playing football and he's trying to get to the quarterback. He's not dirty. He's not trying to do anything cheap."
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Vernon was fined $37,363 for two separate roughing the passer infractions. The NFL fined Vernon $17,363 for striking Mariota in the knee area in the second quarter of Sunday's game and $20,000 for striking Mariota in the head and neck area in the third quarter. The NFL apparently fined Vernon more for the second hit because the NFL places a particular emphasis on avoiding hits to the head.
Vernon plans to appeal the fines from the league.
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