NFL FINES TOM BRADY FOR AGGRESSIVE SLIDE-KICK OF RAVENS ED REED

The NFL has fined New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady $10,000 for his slide into Ed Reed in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens.

The action taken by the league was first reported by NFL.com.

During the final minute of the first half, Brady slid to the ground at the end of a scramble with his legs raised up. He hit Reed, who was not injured, but the slide angered some on the Ravens sideline, but not Reed.

"I know he's a great player," Reed said after the Ravens earned a spot against the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. "I respect Brady and his game for all it stands for, and I know he's not a dirty player. And emotions get going in the game."

Reed's teammate Bernard Pollard was less diplomatic.

"When you slide, obviously, quarterbacks know when they slide, everything is on the ground," Pollard told USA Today on Monday. "He knew what he was doing ... Hopefully, the NFL will do something about it.

"When it's all said and done, if you want to keep the game clean, you want this thing going in the right direction, everybody needs to be penalized for their actions."

Even Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Brady warranted a fine.

"I saw the same thing you saw," Harbaugh said. "I saw the same thing everybody saw, so that would be in the league's hands."

Brady eventually texted Reed to apologize.