Landry drew a $24,309 fine two weeks ago for an illegal block that Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan described as a dirty play. And at times the Dolphins receiver becomes demonstrative in showing frustration on the sideline.

After four games, Landry ranked second in the NFL in receptions with 31 receptions. In the past four games he has 18 receptions.

Miami (4-4) has won three games in a row while adopting a run-oriented approach, but coach Adam Gase and offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen said this week they need to do a better job of getting the ball to Landry.

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”Call it what you want,” Landry said. ”It’s football.”

The NFL is certain to look at the play closely in the coming week. Officials flagged the Miami Dolphins receiver Sunday for unnecessary roughness, and some of Williams’ teammates with the Buffalo Bills thought it was worse than that.

”Definitely a cheap hit,” cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman said.

Williams missed the second half with a head and neck injury and went to a hospital for an MRI before flying back to Buffalo with the team. The veteran safety missed most of last season because of a neck injury that required surgery and threatened his career.

He was reinjured on a running play when Landry led with his left shoulder, launched into Williams and hit him head high. Williams was flattened, squirmed in pain and remained on his back before he slowly rose and was led to the locker room.

As Williams woozily walked off the field, Landry approached him.

”I apologized,” Landry said. ”I just told him to get better. You never want to see that happen to anybody. … If I could take that hit back, I would. It’s a guy’s livelihood.”

Bills coach Rex Ryan said he didn’t see the block.

”I hope it wasn’t cheap,” Ryan said. ”I know Landry. I have a ton of respect for that kid. I wouldn’t think he’d do that. I hope that wasn’t the case.”

Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander expressed a similar sentiment.

”I don’t know if it was legal or not, but I know he is out there just trying to play physical,” Alexander said. ”I don’t know him to be a dirty player, but you don’t like to see those types of hits, especially losing that type of caliber of player for our defense. It definitely hurts us. The NFL will look at it and determine whether or not it was a legal hit.”

Landry had an eventful day. He made five catches for 78 yards and caught a 2-point conversion pass during Miami’s comeback for a 28-25 victory.

Before the hit on Williams, he was flagged for taunting. He said he drew that penalty because he spun the ball after a reception in front of the Bills bench .

”I didn’t know that was a penalty,” he said.

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The former Louisiana State star was promoted to the first team on the depth chart this week, solidifying his status after he was one of three starting wideouts in the past two games.

Landry’s ascent is especially impressive because receiver was the Dolphins’ deepest position in training camp. Among those he overtook was Brandon Gibson, a six-year veteran with 211 career catches.

”I’m not satisfied,” Landry said. ”I continue to work like somebody is in front of me. Who takes the field first doesn’t matter. It’s about the guy who makes the plays.”

Landry has become that kind of guy. He enters Sunday’s game at Jacksonville ranked second on the team to Mike Wallace with 22 catches for 232 yards, and scored his first career touchdown in Game 5 against Green Bay. Landry has been targeted as often as Brian Hartline, a 1,000-yard receiver each of the past two years and with better results.

For the Dolphins, who have endured a succession of draft busts in recent years, Landry is a rare rookie. But he came into the NFL confident he could succeed.

”That’s me,” he said. ”That’s one of the edges I play with.”

While Landry benefited from self-assurance, some doubted his speed when the Dolphins took him in the second round. But he has showed explosiveness on kickoff returns with runbacks of 74, 54 and 35 yards, and ranks second in the league with an average of 31.2 on 15 returns.

Playing for the Dolphins isn’t much different than playing for LSU, Landry said. And that doesn’t surprise him.

”The SEC got me ready for the game speed and the caliber of guys I would face week in and week out,” he said.

Even so, Landry said his rookie season has been an education.

”I’m just always constantly learning and picking up on little things, even from defensive guys,” he said.

Landry was part of the most prolific receiving tandem in LSU history. The other half of that duo, his close friend Odell Beckham Jr., missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury but has three touchdown catches as a rookie with the New York Giants.

”I’ve been talking to him,” Landry said. ”On FaceTime we talk as much as we can about how crazy it has been, and how fun it is. We’re both thankful for the opportunity.”

New teammate Wallace has Louisiana ties, too – he’s a native of New Orleans. He and Landry have quickly bonded.

”That’s my brother, man,” Wallace said. ”We work hard in the weight room. We’ve got to bring the pain to them before they get to us. We’re going to do that throughout the year, try to impose our will.”

Landry said he’s learning to match Wallace’s intensity on game day.

”Us Louisiana boys get a little riled up,” Landry said.

He complements the speedy Wallace with a physical style and willingness to catch the ball in traffic, which has made him effective in the slot.

Over the past three games, Landry has caught 14 of the 17 passes directed his way. Such efficiency has been a boost to the Dolphins (3-3), who have averaged nearly 30 points during that span.

Landry won praise on many fronts from coach Joe Philbin.

”His play speed is really outstanding,” Philbin said Thursday. ”He plays fast. He’s decisive. He’s displayed good hands. He’s dependable. He can go across the middle. There’s a term we like to use: He’s a football player. The opportunities he’s had, he has taken advantage of. We like what he’s done. His upside is good.”

Landry said there’s still room for improvement, and he smiled when asked about his potential.

”As the offense goes, I go,” he said. ”The sky is the limit for the offense. Include me in it.”

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