PITTSBURGH -- The NFL fined Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree $18,231 for his controversial hit on Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore in Sunday's AFC wild-card game, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Dupree, who received a penalty for roughing the passer on the play, told ESPN he likely will appeal the fine.
With 7:16 left in the second quarter of the Steelers' victory, Moore took a vicious upper-body shot from Dupree as he was throwing on the run. Moore was shaken up but sat out only one play, prompting an NFL Players Association investigation into the Dolphins' protocol.
Dupree said after the game he did not intend to hurt Moore and was simply trying to bring him down. Several Dolphins players tried to incite Dupree, who said he was ready for a fight.
Dupree missed the first 10 games of the season with an injured groin but has five sacks in his past seven games. He says he's still not all the way back to full strength.
"I've got three games to get there," said Dupree, whose Steelers play the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday's divisional playoff.