Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston fined over $12K for role in fight vs. Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston was fined $12,154 for his role during an altercation in Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.

Winston's tap on the helmet of Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore instigated an incident in which Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans came running over and drilled the rookie in the back. Evans received a one-game suspension and a $40,588 fine earlier this week.

Winston's action came after he had left the game with an injury to his passing shoulder that is expected to sideline him for at least two games.

"Jameis cannot, under any circumstances, come off the sideline when he's not even playing in the game," Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter told reporters. "And trash talking is trash talking, but to go out and tap another player, touch another player, whatever you want to call it at all on the field -- that's inexcusable."

Winston issued an apology on Wednesday.

"I just want to apologize on behalf of my teammates and Mike Evans for the incident that happened in the Saints game. That's something I can't do in the heat of the moment," Winston said. "My competitive nature (took over). Obviously I can't come off the field and make any gesture toward an opponent, let alone touch them. I can't do that, so I apologize for that."

Ryan Fitzpatrick will be the quarterback Sunday against his former team -- the New York Jets.