The NFL fined Colts safety Melvin Bullitt $5,000 for his hit on Jets QB Mark Sanchez during last Sunday’s AFC Championship Game, according to the Indianapolis Star.

Jets coach Rex Ryan called the third-quarter hit a “cheap shot” and nearly drew an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty because of his demonstrative performance after the play. NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira said Wednesday that the hit should have drawn a flag.

Sanchez handed the ball off to RB Thomas Jones, but Bullitt said he was fooled by the quarterback, thinking it was a play-action fake.

“Five thousand dollars, that hurts,” Bullitt said. “I understand (Ryan) being mad because that’s his quarterback, but I didn’t try to hurt him. I was just playing football. I didn’t know if he had the ball or not. I was coming from behind.”

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