NFL hands out fines
San Francisco offensive coordinator Mike Martz has been fined $20,000 by the NFL for his criticism of the officiating at the end of the 49ers’ 29-24 loss in Arizona on Nov. 10.
Also fined were Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards, who will lose $25,000 for two hits against Tampa Bay last Sunday; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Brandon Jones ($15,000) for excessive celebration after a touchdown; and Carolina Panthers linebacker Jon Beason ($5,000) for grabbing Detroit Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper by the facemask on a play that didn’t result in a penalty.
Bears’ Booker sidelined
Chicago receiver Marty Booker will miss the game at St. Louis on Sunday because of a knee injury. In his second stint with the Bears after spending the past four seasons with Miami, Booker has just 11 receptions for 183 yards and two touchdowns and has not caught a pass the past three games.
Bengals put Joseph on IR
Cincinnati starting cornerback Johnathan Joseph will miss the rest of the season with a foot injury. Joseph missed two early games with the injury, but had played in six straight games before aggravating it Sunday against Philadelphia. He didn’t play in Thursday night’s loss at Pittsburgh.
Jets QB Ainge suspended
New York Jets rookie quarterback Erik Ainge has been suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league’s policy on steroids and related substances. Ainge, already on injured reserve and out for the season with a foot injury, is not allowed to be with the team or at its facility during the suspension.
Jets’ Harris, Smith out
New York Jets linebacker David Harris (groin) and safety Eric Smith (concussion) will each miss their fourth straight game after they were ruled out Friday for the team’s matchup at undefeated Tennessee because of injuries.
Vick facing state charges
Former NFL star Michael Vick is back in Virginia to plead guilty to state dogfighting charges, a move he hopes will expedite his return to society and, eventually, pro football. Vick arrived Thursday afternoon from the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., where he’s serving a 23-month sentence for a dogfighting conspiracy conviction.
Vick, 28, is due to appear Tuesday in Surry County Circuit Court, where he’s expected to plead guilty to two felony counts in a deal with prosecutors that calls for a suspended sentence and probation.
The plea would resolve his last pending criminal charges, and his lawyers hope would make him eligible for early release from prison into a halfway house designed to ease his return to society.
Pacman can practice
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed Friday that suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones can join the Dallas Cowboys on Monday and that he can play again Dec. 7 against Pittsburgh — but only if he stays on his best behavior.
Commissioner Roger Goodell issued a brief statement Friday confirming the details of Jones’ return, noting that it can only happen "if he avoids any further incidents and fully complies with each and every condition that has been established for him."
Those conditions were not outlined, although it’s believed that he must keep up with the aftercare of the alcohol rehabilitation program he underwent since being suspended Oct. 14.
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