Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley has defended George Iloka despite suffering concussion at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals safety.
Finley returned to practice today for the first time since being knocked out by an Iloka hit during his side's 34-30 defeat to the Bengals in week three.
Iloka was fined $15,000 (£9,000) for the tackle due to "unnecessarily striking a defenceless player in the head and neck area", but Finley believes that it was a perfectly good hit from the safety.
"The hit got my neck. I think the ground caused the concussion. I've been hit like that thousands of times and got up fine," Finley told reporters.
"I thought it was a great hit. I didn't think it was dirty at all. That's my opinion. If I was the safety, I'd do the same thing. It's a part of the game."
Finley is likely to be part of the Packers team that takes on the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
