Goldson not fined for penalized hit, not happy

SANTA CLARA -- Safety Dashon Goldson said Wednesday he was absolved of any wrongdoing for an illegal hit Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.But Goldson is still not happy he was penalized for what referee Bill Leavy announced as "a blow to the head" on Browns receiver Greg Little. Line judge Mark Perlman, who threw the flag, conferred with Leavy before the penalty was announced."I'm good," Goldson said when asked if he had be fined. "I knew it was clean . . . If it was a blow to the head, I would've had a 15,000 or 20,000 fine in my locker right now. But I got penalized. That could've cost us the game."The penalty, which came late in the second quarter, helped the Browns move into position for Phil Dawson's 52-yard field goal on the final play of the half to cut the 49ers' lead to 17-3."Was it a clean hit or a dirty hit? If it was clean, we shouldn't get penalized for that during the game because I didnt get penalized for it with a fine," Goldson said. "Something's got to give."
Goldson said teams should have the option to issue a replay challenge on a penalty for a hit to the head. Replays appeared to show that Goldson did not strike Little's head with his big hit.
"I think it would be a good idea to have them replay it when they throw the flag," Goldson said. "It should be an extra challenge or a special challenge or something. You give a guy 15 yards on a clean hit and then you get in here in Tuesday or Wednesday and there's no FedEx. That's what it's all about."Players receive notifications of fines from the NFL office via a letter sent via overnight courier. Defensive end Justin Smith was likely to get fined for a fourth-quarter hit on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy.Goldson has never been fined for an illegal hit in his five-year career, he said. He has been fined for a uniform violation, he said."I don't lead with my head, so I didn't have to change anything," Goldson said. "I think I was taught pretty well growing up how to tackle."