NFL

Shanahan fined for blasting call

By wire services
Published September 24, 2005

The NFL fined Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan $20,000 on Friday for his criticism of the call that reversed Darrent Williams' punt return for a touchdown last week against San Diego.

Officials called Denver for too many men on the field toward the end of Williams' 61-yard punt return last Sunday after a few Broncos ran off the sideline to prepare for the extra point. None of the Broncos who ran onto the field were within 15 yards of the play.

"It was a horrible call. Horrible call," Shanahan said Monday. "You wouldn't see a lot of calls like that in high school."

On Friday, Shanahan acknowledged he had been fined.

"It's the first time I've ever been fined," Shanahan said jokingly. "That is pretty impressive."

Williams said he had no response to his coach's penalty.

"I won't be helping Mike pay the fine," he said.

Former Oakland Raiders center Barret Robbins will be held without bond until his trial sometime next year on attempted murder and other charges stemming from a January brawl with police.

Robbins had been free on $51,000 bond and undergoing treatment for bipolar disorder at a hospital in Texas. But Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Kevin Emas revoked that bond after he was arrested Aug. 13 on marijuana charges in San Antonio.

Emas ordered Robbins held in a psychiatric wing of the Miami-Dade County jail "until the case is resolved." No trial date has been set.

EAGLES: Brian Westbrook missed practice with a knee injury but was expected to start Philadelphia's game against Oakland on Sunday. Quarterback Donovan McNabb (groin), receiver Terrell Owens (abdominal/groin) and kicker David Akers (hamstring) all practiced and will play.

FALCONS: Quarterback Michael Vick practiced for the second straight day and likely will start when Atlanta visits Buffalo.

Vick tweaked his left hamstring in the fourth quarter of last week's loss at Seattle and left the game on each of the final two possessions. Coach Jim Mora upgraded Vick from questionable to probable after the two-time Pro Bowl selection returned to practice.

GIANTS: Defensive end Michael Strahan missed practice with a sore back and was listed as questionable for Sunday night's game at San Diego.

Strahan, the NFL's active career sack leader, has had back spasms in previous years but they have never caused him to miss a game. He missed the last eight games of the 2004 season with a torn pectoral muscle.

JAGUARS: Quarterback Byron Leftwich (groin) and defensive end Reggie Hayward (back) were upgraded to probable two days before Jacksonville faced the New York Jets.

"I'm not 100 percent, but who in the NFL is 100 percent during the season?" Leftwich said Friday. "But I'll be out there playing on Sunday. I won't be limited in any way come Sunday."

[Last modified September 24, 2005, 01:00:22]