BENGALS’ WHITWORTH WANTS FINE EXPLAINED

Bengals guard Andrew Whitworth says he wants the NFL to explain to him why he was fined $10,000 for a fight with Jaguars defensive tackle John Henderson -- a fight that Whitworth said consisted mostly of Henderson attacking him and Whitworth defending himself. “I would love to have a phone call from them explaining to me how they are justifying [the decision],” Whitworth said today, per Mark Curnutte of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I don’t see how in the world they can justify us having equal fines at all.” Whitworth acknowledged that he retaliated, but he said he doesn’t see how his retaliation is close to the same as what Henderson did to him -- “Blatantly attacking me from behind, without a helmet, without any restraint.” Said Whitworth, “I think him getting the same thing as me is absurd.” Whether Whitworth is right or wrong, it’s clear that there’s a growing perception among NFL players that the league’s fine policy needs to undergo some serious revisions. And it’s clear that if Whitworth goes much further in labeling NFL policies as “absurd,” he could have another fine coming.