Hit Costs $50,000 for Eagles’ Dawkins

Philadelphia Eagle All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins was fined $50,000 Thursday for a hit that ended the season for New York Giant receiver Ike Hilliard.

The play came in the third quarter of Philadelphia’s 17-3 victory Monday night. After a pass went over Hilliard’s head, Dawkins leveled him with a hit to the chest, separating the receiver’s shoulder.

The league has re-emphasized its policy this week against helmet-to-helmet and other dangerous hits. On Wednesday, Dallas safety Darren Woodson was fined $75,000 for a hit on Seattle’s Darrell Jackson last Sunday.

Dawkins insists his hit was clean.

“I know my intent on that play,” Dawkins said. “It was a split-second thing. It’s real hard to just make yourself stop in the middle of a full-out sprint. I’m not a dirty player by no sense of the imagination. It’s one of those things that happened.”

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Willie Jackson signed with the Washington Redskins, giving Coach Steve Spurrier another ex-Florida receiver.

Jackson was waived Monday by Atlanta after he complained he wasn’t getting the ball enough. Jackson was the Falcons’ third-leading receiver with 18 catches for 199 yards.

To make room for Jackson, the Redskins released Kevin Lockett. Lockett took a pay cut to stay with the team this season and started two games, but he had not played since a costly fumble at Green Bay two weeks ago.

The Redskins were interested in Jackson during the off-season when he was a free agent, but he signed a three-year, $3.5 million contract with the Falcons. Jackson set career highs with 81 receptions for 1,046 yards last year with the Saints.

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Tennessee Titan running back Eddie George practiced Thursday and had no swelling in his left knee and ankle, even though the Titans officially listed him as questionable for Sunday’s game with Indianapolis. Team medical personnel said George had a mild ligament sprain.... New York Giant Coach Jim Fassel will call the plays Sunday, taking over the job from offensive coordinator Sean Payton. The change was made because the Giants (3-4) have scored seven offensive touchdowns in seven games.... Chicago Bear quarterback Jim Miller, who hasn’t started the past two weeks because of a sore shoulder and elbow, practiced for a second straight day and Coach Dick Jauron said he anticipated Miller would start Sunday.... Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver Plaxico Burress was fined $5,000 by the NFL for an on-field tantrum caused when the Ravens’ James Trapp yanked off his helmet Sunday. The fine was automatic because Burress was ejected following a fight.