Four Ravens Are Fined By League

From News Services and Staff Reports
Saturday, December 8, 2007

The NFL fined four Baltimore Ravens for violating league rules that prohibit the abuse of game officials stemming from their conduct during and after a 27-24 loss to New England on Monday night.

Linebacker Bart Scott was fined $25,000 for "verbally abusing game officials" and for throwing an official's flag into the stands late in the fourth quarter. Cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister and wide receiver Derrick Mason were fined $15,000 apiece for "publicly questioning the integrity of the officiating."

Scott was assessed back-to-back unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on the Patriots' game-winning drive, though he later said that the first flag was thrown because a fan in the stands dumped beer on Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss. He admitted that throwing the flag was "juvenile."

Rolle, McAlister and Mason were highly critical of the officials following the game. McAlister said that they were "horrible," and added: "It's hard to go out there and play the Patriots and the refs at the same time. It is what it is. They put the crown on top, and they want them to win." Mason said the Ravens were the target of "verbal blasting" from the officials, and Rolle said that head linesman Phil McKinnely repeatedly called him "boy."

A league official said that McKinnely was not disciplined but was reminded by Anderson of his obligation to conduct himself professionally in his dealings with players, coaches and team officials.

¿ BRONCOS: Coach Mike Shanahan was fined $25,000 by the NFL for his comments about running back Travis Henry's appeal of a one-year drug suspension.

The NFL informed Henry in September that he failed a test for marijuana. He sued the NFL to avoid a suspension and won his appeal Tuesday.

Shanahan supported Henry's appeal, saying he was convinced of his innocence after the player passed a polygraph test and a hair sample came back negative for marijuana.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an e-mail that Shanahan was fined by the commissioner for "inappropriate public comments about the substance abuse program in violation of league rules."

¿ BILLS: Kevin Everett is walking on his own at a Houston rehab center, the latest significant progress by the Buffalo tight end in his remarkable recovery from a serious spinal cord injury.

"He doesn't have a full natural stride but, yeah, he's walking," a person close to the family told the Associated Press.

¿ SAINTS: Running back Reggie Bush has a partially torn left knee ligament that likely won't require surgery but could sideline him for Monday night's game at Atlanta.

¿ RAMS: Quarterback Marc Bulger had a setback in his recovery from a concussion, meaning it's possible Brock Berlin, who has never attempted a pass in a regular season game, might start tomorrow at Cincinnati.

¿ TEXANS: Houston placed Ahman Green on injured reserve, ending the season for the player signed to be its featured running back.

Green missed Houston's last three games with a left knee injury that's bothered him for months. He rushed for 260 yards on 70 carries this season, less than what the Texans expected when he signed a four-year, $23 million contract in March.

¿ TITANS: Safety Chris Hope is out for the season after tests confirmed a spinal cord injury will require rest and possibly surgery, but is not expected to be career-ending.

Hope has not played since he was injured Nov. 25, when his left arm and leg were twitching as he lay on the field after a helmet-to-helmet collision with teammate Sean Conover in the first quarter of a game at Cincinnati.

¿ STEELERS: Safety Troy Polamalu is likely to miss tomorrow's game at New England after sitting out practice for the second day in a row because of a sprained knee.

¿ VIKINGS: Erasmus James's comeback from major knee surgery lasted all of three or four plays. The defensive end was placed on injured reserve and will need surgery again to repair the ACL in his left knee.

James, injured early in Sunday's game against Detroit, first tore his left ACL in Week 2 last season. He missed the rest of the year and a good portion of 2007 working his way back into shape.