Adam Jones fined $35K by NFL; Bengals CB plans to appeal

— -- Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones said Wednesday he was fined $35,000 by the NFL for slamming Raiders receiver Amari Cooper's head into his helmet during the teams' Week 1 matchup Sunday in Oakland, California.

Jones, who previously told ESPN that he didn't expect a punishment, said he will appeal the fine, given for hitting a defenseless player.

Cameras caught Jones on top of Cooper, the Raiders' top draft pick, slapping at the wide receiver's helmet hard enough that it came off. As soon as it did, Jones grabbed Cooper's head and slammed it once into the helmet while Cooper was on his back underneath the veteran corner.

"Whatever you saw happen, that's what happened," Jones said earlier this week. "I'm just here to play football. I don't back down from anybody and I'm not out here trying to start anything. I'm just out here playing football."

Information from ESPN.com Bengals reporter Coley Harvey was used in this report.