Cleveland Browns safety Tashaun Gipson has denied leading with his helmet when tackling Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley during yesterday's match between the two sides.

Gipson hit Finley in the head at the end of a 10-yard reception, forcing him off the field with a neck injury after undergoing six minutes of treatment on the pitch.

The 23-year-old was penalised for unnecessary roughness after the referee ruled that he had lead with the helmet, but Gipson insists that it was a legitimate shoulder tackle.

"[It was] all shoulder. The crown of my head did not go down whatsoever. It was a shoulder hit. I don't know the place where it hit him exactly. I just know I saw him break out of the middle," ESPN quotes Gipson as saying.

"He was running a slant. I'm driving on the ball. There's a collision and he's down. I really haven't watched the play so I can't really tell you what happened. I was just going out there playing physical."

The Browns went on to lose the game 31-13.