Ravens safety Ed Reed fined $55,000 for hit on Victor Cruz

• Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed has been fined $55,000 for a hit to the head and neck area of Giants WR Victor Cruz
• Earlier this season, Reed won an appeal of a one-game suspension, which was changed to a $50,000 fine
• Reed called the hit "decent," and Cruz said he believed the hit by Reed was legal

Ed Reed has been fined $55,000 by the NFL for what game officials deemed a hit to the head and neck area of a defenseless receiver in Sunday's game against the New York Giants, according to NFL spokesman Corry Rush.

The Baltimore Ravens safety who was fined $50,000 earlier this season, said he believed the hit on Victor Cruz to be "decent" following Sunday's 33-14 Ravens win. Cruz himself agreed the hit was legal.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh weighed in this week, asking the NFL to take a look at its standards. He said Reed threw his shoulder, and Cruz crouched into the blow.

"It's tough. I hope that the league really takes a look at this in the off-season and figures out a way to help the players out a little bit, because it's been a real challenge so far this year," Harbaugh said. "Ed (Reed) was trying to do everything he could. Our guys are really trying to do the right thing. It's difficult, (at) full speed, to do that."

Reed, 34, was hoping to avoid suspension after being flagged for a 15-yard penalty on the play. He was suspended for one game earlier this season for a blow to a defenseless receiver, but won an appeal and had the punishment changed to a fine.

"I don't know what is going to come of it. I had the referee whispering into my ear on the second play," Reed said. "All I like to do is play the game. I talked to Troy Aikman before the game about this – him and Joe Buck. They asked me how my game changed. I don't really know what to do with it. I thought it was a decent hit."