Antrel Rolle calls Clayton about concussion

Ravens wide-out Mark Clayton said Giants safety Antrel Rolle should not be fined for the concussion-enducing hit Rolle delivered in Saturday night's preseason game.

"It's football, stuff like that happens," Clayton said Monday.

Rolle called Clayton on Sunday, apparently to apologize for the second-quarter hit that drew a personal foul penalty and gave the Ravens a first down. On the next play, Rolle was flagged for illegal contact as Todd Heap made a 13-yard touchdown catch.

"[Rolle] said, 'Man, I kind of knocked myself out a little bit,'" Clayton said. "He asked if I was OK, and I asked if he was OK."

Rolle was called for hitting a defenseless receiver, since the ball had already sailed past Clayton. That was a point of emphasis in the offseason, and the reason Rolle might be fined.

It seems very unlikely Clayton would play in the preseason finale in St. Louis on Thursday, but he says he'll be fine for the season opener on Sept.13 against the Jets. He said his neck was "pretty sore," but he felt fine otherwise.

Clayton said he was having a "conversation" with himself after the hit and decided to take his time getting up.

"I was saying, 'Man, I can't believe he hit me like that,' because I saw him coming and I was like, 'Man, he's going to hit me,' and then I was like, 'Dang, he hit me.' After that, I'm like, 'Yeah, take your time getting up, because when you get up, there'll be a rush [of blood] to the head.'"

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(baltimoresun.com)