BEREA, Ohio (AP) - Browns safety T.J. Ward has appealed a $25,000 fine for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Sunday at Dallas, and said the NFL's rules on vicious hits need to be changed.

Ward received a letter from the league on Wednesday informing him of the penalty for hitting Cowboys wide receiver Kevin Ogletree. Ward said replays conclusively show he did not touch any part of Ogletree's head. Ward said Ogletree was falling as he delivered his hit, which made it appear worse than it was. It's the second time Ward has been fined for a blow to the head.

Ward believes the league is doing the right thing in cracking down on hits to the head, but the rules have made it ``ridiculous'' to play defense. He said most players ``are not trying to hurt anybody.''

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