Lions' Quin: Fitzgerald tells some DBs to hit him high, offers to pay fines

Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin claimed Wednesday that Larry Fitzgerald has told opposing defensive backs to hit him high instead of low, offering to pay any fines the NFL imposes if they do, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

"In 2014, I think, up there, in Arizona, and he ran a 7 route, a corner route, and I drove on it, hit him on third down, and he dropped the ball and he went out the game," Quin said. "He had like an MCL injury and he's big on like don't hit him low, like hit him high. He'll tell you on the field like, 'Hey bro, I'll pay your fine for you. Don't hit me in the legs.' He'd rather you hit him up high. Don't take his legs because obviously, you need your legs to run."

In recent years, the NFL has attempted to force defenders to avoid big hits to the head and neck area as long-term health concerns regarding concussions continue to grow.

However, it's not been a popular move among defenders, who often claim it forces them to take low shots on offensive players that can cause knee injuries.

"He'll say it all the time," Quin said. "You can ask anybody. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only DB. You ask anybody he'll tell you like, 'Hey man, don't take my knees out like that.' I'm not saying like you're trying to make a tackle, but he's saying if you got that shot where he's coming across.

"You have these guys that had their knee in the ground and get caught when they get hit and tear their knees up. He's like, 'I would rather you hit me up here than hit me down here.' Now, as a DB, you're going to take the lower hit because this hit right here is going to give you a fine. But he'll tell you like, 'Hey, I'll pay your fine for you.'"

It appears the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver wants to lessen the risk of a leg injury, though the league might take issue with one of its most respected players openly telling his opponents to hit him high.