“Some people want to say I’m a dirty player, but I know I’m not a dirty player,” Everett said following Thursday’s practice. “Anybody that knows me knows the type of person that I am. I just play the game physically. I’m not the biggest guy out there, so it’s not like I’m out there just taking shots on everybody. I’m just out there playing football the way I grew up playing football.”

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The 24-year-old received the news from the NFL on Wednesday and defended his actions on both plays. Everett understood why he was penalized and fined on the hit he delivered to Sproles, but he doesn’t agree with the fine amount given the circumstances.

“It’s a bang-bang play,” Everett said. “As a punt returner, you definitely have the option to call a fair catch, and you can not catch the ball if it’s a situation where you’re running up towards somebody that’s running up towards you. It’s hard to time that perfectly, and I thought I was. His hands were going up, and he was lowering himself also as I’m going to try to tackle him thinking that, ‘All right, he’s about to grab the ball and I’m going to hit him with perfect timing.’ I understand the fine behind it because I hit him before the ball got there and kind of hitting a defenseless player, but that’s the risk when you’re back there.

“You have options. You have ways to protect yourself. It’s not like the guy called fair catch, and I still took a shot at him because I’m not that type of player. I thought it was perfect timing, but it wasn’t. That shows you that football is a split-second game.”

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The second-year player didn’t agree with the fine he received on the blindside penalty he drew while trying to block Eagles tight end Brent Celek, who was injured on the play. Everett believes the hit was a common play and didn’t warrant a $24,000 fine on top of the penalty.

“It’s not like guys are just purposely going out there saying, ‘Oh yeah, I’m gonna get me a crack back today and put somebody out of the game,’” Everett said. “No. But if you can make a big block, you’re going to try and make that big block right? That’s a highlight for yourself. You’re known as, ‘Oh yeah, he’s a physical guy. Don’t just be running down there [without] your head on a swivel.’ The guy saw me, but he just didn’t have time to react, I guess you can say.”

Everett, who has a $525,000 base salary this season, earns $30,882 per game. The fine will cost him more than just a game check if the amounts are upheld after appeal.