Sports: NFL briefs

NFL briefs

By Compiled from Times wires

Jags' Brackens fined $10,000

JACKSONVILLE -- The NFL fined Jaguars defensive end Tony Brackens $10,000 Thursday for kicking Redskins lineman Jay Leeuwenburg.

Brackens was ejected in the second quarter of Jacksonville's 35-16 loss to Washington on Sunday. He kicked Leeuwenburg after emerging from the pile with a fumble recovery. Brackens said somebody in the pile twisted his arm behind his back.

On Wednesday, Brackens called a team meeting to apologize to teammates. The Jaguars had only seven healthy defensive linemen available, and Brackens acknowledged hurting the team.

"I didn't feel like it was that flagrant," Brackens said. "It was still uncharacteristic of me and my play. I'm not at peace with myself for doing such a thing to my team and my teammates."

CARDINALS: Defensive end Andre Wadsworth went through a strenuous practice to improve his chances of playing Sunday against the Saints. Wadsworth, the third player chosen in the 1998 draft, has not played this season while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. ... Even in exile from his first job as coach, Vince Tobin stumped for a new stadium for the 2-5 Cardinals. "I know there's a lot of talk about the stadium vote coming up and whether that was one of the reasons that I was let go," Tobin said. "But irregardless of your feelings on that, to me Proposition 302 is something that needs to be passed, not only for the Cardinals but for the Cactus League and tourism and just the whole valley." In a wide-ranging interview, Tobin agreed that owner Bill Bidwill's anxiety over the Nov. 7 vote on a $331-million stadium probably led to his firing Monday.

DOLPHINS: Miami placed guard John Bock on injured reserve and waived cornerback Ray Hill. The Dolphins re-signed linebacker Michael Hamilton and signed guard Anthony Cesario off New Orleans' practice squad.

CHIEFS: Elvis Grbac pronounced himself "100 percent" after going through a full practice for the first time since injuring his right elbow. Coach Gunther Cunningham said he was impressed with Grbac's workout and that the quarterback would start Sunday in Seattle. Grbac was hurt late in the third quarter of the Chiefs' victory over St. Louis.

COLTS: Indianapolis placed rookie linebacker Rob Morris on injured reserve after surgery to repair a torn tendon near his right knee. The team also will be without defensive tackle Ellis Johnson, the former Wildwood and Gators star who is out at least one week after surgery Tuesday to repair damaged cartilage in his right knee.

EAGLES: After a rocky second season, offensive tackle Tra Thomas bounced back well enough this season to know he wants to remain an Eagle. "I wanted to play my whole career in Philadelphia," said Thomas, who signed a six-year contract extension worth $34-million, including an $8-million signing bonus.

49ERS: The primary physician treating John Brodie said the former quarterback is making slow but steady progress from a major stroke. "He is in very serious but stable condition," said Dr. Khoi Le, a cardiologist at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, located near Palm Springs. "He is fully alert and very interactive with his family." Le said the 65-year-old Brodie's symptoms first appeared Monday night.

PACKERS: Antonio Freeman's fine for missing Monday's workouts was between $9,000 and $10,000, the Associated Press reported. That's five times the amount it initially was believed Freeman was fined after he experienced flight troubles returning from a long weekend off Sunday.

RAMS: Back as a defensive guru, Bud Carson was as blunt as ever: Kevin Carter, Carson said, is "not the same player I remember." The comment came after the All-Pro defensive end said he's not happy about coach Mike Martz's decision to bench him Sunday against the 49ers. Carter started the first 83 games of his career before he was benched earlier this year for missing a practice. ... Trent Green, who left the Redskins in 1999 for a four-year, $16-million contract, will get his first start for the Rams on Sunday -- playing in place of Kurt Warner. Warner is out four to six weeks after breaking the pinkie on his right throwing hand.

SEAHAWKS: Starting quarterback Brock Huard was downgraded from questionable to doubtful for Sunday's game with Kansas City. That means Huard has a 25 percent chance of playing against the Chiefs and that Jon Kitna likely will replace him.

TITANS: Coach Jeff Fisher said he's optimistic Pro Bowl running back Eddie George will return to practice today. George, questionable for Monday night's game against Washington because of a sprained ligament in his right knee, went through rehabilitation drills for about an hour. CARRUTH TRIAL: A third juror was seated for ex-Carolina Panther Rae Carruth's murder trial, and attorneys on both sides expect it will take at least another week to select all 12 jurors.