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Ravens safety Bernard Pollard was the most vocal critic of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for trying to kick Baltimore’s Ed Reed in the AFC Championship Game. So it was some measure of vindication for Pollard that Brady was fined $10,000.

Unfortunately for Pollard, he’s now been fined more than Brady: The NFL has confirmed that Pollard was fined $15,250 for a hit on Wes Welker in the AFC Championship Game.

Welker held onto the 24-yard pass from Brady despite Pollard’s vicious hit, and the 15-yard penalty on Pollard gave the Patriots a total gain of 39 yards, moving them from their own 25-yard line to the Ravens’ 36. That was in the third quarter with the Patriots leading 13-7, and it appeared that the home team had all the momentum.

As it turned out, however, the momentum was about to turn toward Baltimore: The Ravens’ defense stopped the Patriots from getting another first down, Bill Belichick made a surprising decision to punt from the Ravens’ 34-yard line, and on the next possession the Ravens marched down the field to score a touchdown and take a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.

So Pollard’s penalty wasn’t costly for the Ravens. Even though it just cost him 38 percent of the $40,000 that each player gets paid to appear in a conference championship game.