Jameis Winston Fined for Head-Butting Justin Durant: Latest Details and Comments

The NFL fined Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston $9,115 Friday for his head-butt of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Justin Durant during a 26-20 loss in Week 15, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today. 

With the Buccaneers on the Cowboys 8-yard line while trailing 17-3 during the second quarter of Sunday night's game, Durant stuffed running back Doug Martin, driving him backward.  

Both players fell to the field after the play, and then Winston came behind Durant, who was getting up, and head-butted him in the back of the helmet before moving on to help Martin off the field. 

Winston spoke about the incident after the game, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times: "Just fighting for my teammate, man. Doug, he runs hard for us all the time. The guy threw him to the ground late. I'm out there competing. Passion versus emotion. I can't do that. It hurt us.''

Winston was flagged on the play, which took Tampa Bay out of the red zone and stymied its early comeback attempt. 

It was just one part of a tough night for Winston, who was picked off three times and sacked another four times. 

However, he did show some poise in bringing the Buccaneers to within six after they had trailed by two possessions for most of the first half. 

Had the head-butt never happened, though, Tampa Bay could have punched that red-zone chance into the end zone, which would have made it an entirely different game. 

This provides a harsh learning experience for the second-year quarterback, who is still in the midst of a playoff race at 8-6, as he must learn to keep his emotions in check.

As a quarterback and a team leader, he will only continue to compromise the Buccaneers' on-field efforts with incidents like these.