The National Football League has fined Denver...

The National Football League has fined Denver Broncos free safety Mike Harden $5,000 for the tackle that caused a concussion and knocked Seattle’s Steve Largent out of the game on the opening Sunday of the season.

Harden, who said he will appeal, was not penalized on the play. But NFL spokesman Joe Browne said that the league can fine a player for use of “unnecessary violence.”

Harden told the Rocky Mountain News: “It certainly didn’t warrant a fine, and certainly not a fine of that magnitude.”

The play occurred during the third period of the game with the Seahawks leading, 14-7. Replays showed that Harden hit Largent right after the ball arrived, but the letter Harden received from the league said the ball already had fallen to the ground when Harden hit Largent.

Largent was knocked unconscious and missed the rest of the game with a concussion. The blow destroyed Largent’s facemask, and he later had two teeth capped.