Keanu Neal Fined for Hit on Jordan Matthews: Latest Details and Reaction

Atlanta Falcons defensive back Keanu Neal reportedly received a $24,309 fine from the NFL on Friday for a hit on Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews during last Sunday's game. 

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network first reported the news. Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com confirmed the details of the league's punishment.

Neal delivered a crushing shot to Matthews during the fourth quarter of the Eagles' 24-15 victory. While no penalty was called in real time by the on-field officials, replays appeared to show the safety made head-to-head contact, as his helmet struck the wideout's face mask.

The 21-year-old rookie defended himself after the contest, stating he wasn't attempting to strike the Eagles star above the shoulders, per Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ Advance Media.

"I am not trying to hit the guy in the head," Neal said. "That's not me. Never in the game of football will I ever try to do that. I'm not a dirty player like that. I went for the strike zone, I lowered my shoulder, and I felt like I hit him in the sternum. I don't think I had any head-to-head contact."

Meanwhile, Tim McManus of ESPN noted Matthews was frustrated there wasn't a flag on the play, and he thinks it's time for the standards to change in terms of correcting those calls.

"Sometimes they stick so much to the, 'OK, but we called it on the field; we have to just stick with it,'" Matthews said. "But if you go look at this, they have a big TV out there, and you can see a dude just hit me in my chin. There's nothing wrong with going ahead and giving us the call, and you're right."

Philadelphia head coach Doug Pederson said Wednesday the team sent the play in question to the NFL for review, and the league agreed a penalty should have been called, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

"We talk about player safety and player safety being the No. 1 importance," Pederson said. "I'm not going to get into a bunch of it here, but a defenseless receiver trying to make a play...it happens so fast. Listen, the officials are working extremely hard every week."

It's a sizable fine for Neal. Spotrac listed his base salary for his first season at $450,000. A fine of over $24,000 represents more than 5 percent of that total.