"When Bucs MLB Mason Foster decked Patriots WR Chad Ochocinco with a forearm and shoulder to the head and neck, drawing a personal foul, Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris got over it.

So, too, did Ochocinco.

A day after the violent hit in the Bucs' 31-14 preseason loss - a hit that might result in Foster being fined under the NFL's more stringent player-safety guidelines - Ochocinco gave Foster a virtual pat on the back for the play via Twitter.

Friday, Ochocinco posted on his Twitter account: "@Mason_Foster great hit last night. if u're fined I'll reimburse u boss. That's the way the game should b played. Stay healthy n have a good yr" (sic).

In the first-quarter play, Foster was flagged for unnecessary roughness, a 15-yard penalty. Morris said he aims to strike a balance between teaching his players to be aware and play within the rules while playing the physical, aggressive game he demands.

"That's something you just have to coach and get a little better at," Morris said. "Obviously they're going to err on the side of caution with the National Football League, but you don't want to deter Mason, either. We're not going to let that be a deterrent for us in how physical we want to play."

One reason Foster expressed mild frustration with the call was because he hit Ochocinco the only way he could have. Because the receiver was leaning forward and sort of crouching, his upper body was the only area exposed to Foster."