Goldson fined $21,000 for Hernandez hit

A vicious hit by Dashon Goldson on Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has cost the 49ers defensive back $21,000 in a fine handed out by the NFL. Goldson, who acknowledged the fine on Friday, has earned the reputation as one of the NFL's hardest hitters and plans to appeal his latest fine.

Goldson says he's been fined approximately $70,000 for socks, pants and other uniform violations during his six-year career.

But as for the hit in the third quarter on Hernandez, Goldson said there was nothing dirty about it.

"I don't have time to sit there and dictate in the timespan I have as a football player when I'm on the football field to dictate what's a clean and what's a not-so-clean hit," Goldson said. "I'm not a dirty player. And that's just that."

Goldson and the 49ers were tagged for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after he leveled Hernandez while the tight end was still in the air and turning to make a catch. Goldson put his feet together, spread his arms out wide and looked to the sky in a celebration immediately after the hit.

This is just the latest fine for Goldson, who is on one-year contract worth $6.2 million. He was hit $7,875 for a late hit on sliding Rams quarterback Sam Bradford on Dec. 2, $7,875 for taunting -- unsportsmanlike conduct -- after tackling Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch in October, $25,000 for punching Arizona receiver Early Doucet in November 2011 and $5,000 for a late hit on Raiders receiver Louis Murphy in October 2010.

For more, visit the Patriots team page at weei.com/patriots [1].