Notes

— NFL No suspensions for brawl

Houston’s Andre Johnson and Tennessee’s Cortland Finnegan each were fined $25,000 but avoided suspensions by the NFL on Monday, a day after slugging it out in the fourth quarter of the Texans’ 20-0 victory.

Finnegan said he plans to appeal the fine, while Johnson, when asked, said “probably not.”

“Just looking at it, I mean, what can I say?” Johnson said. “There’s not really anything I can say, or tell them.”

“He snapped. He started throwing blows,” Finnegan said of Johnson.

Finnegan set off the brawl by jabbing at Johnson’s neck and face mask at the line of scrimmage. Johnson ripped off Finnegan’s helmet and landed at least two punches to Finnegan’s head and neck. The two spun each other, and Finnegan tore off Johnson’s helmet before players and referees intervened.

Johnson apologized after the game, and Finnegan has not spoken about the incident.

“I would like to apologize to the organization, our owner and my teammates,” Johnson said. “What happened out there today was not me. I just lost my cool and I wish that I could take back what happened, but I can’t. It’s over and done with now.”

This is the second time they scuffled. Last season, Johnson was fined $7,500 for taking Finnegan to the ground by the face mask.

Johnson said he would “probably not” appeal the fine.

The Texans (5-6) play at Philadelphia on Thursday, and were concerned that their Pro Bowl receiver may be suspended.

“I guess he got his money’s worth,” Finnegan said of Johnson during his weekly radio show Monday night.

BRONCOS Bowlen: McDaniels safe

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen says embattled coach Josh McDaniels’ job is safe.

Yet, after telling AOL FanHouse that McDaniels would be back in 2011, Bowlen issued a statement Monday night that seemed to back off that a bit.

Bowlen’s statement said that while the season has been a trying and disappointing one, “Josh McDaniels is the head coach of the Broncos, and you always strive for stability at that position.”

He added that with five games left, “we will continue to monitor the progress of the team and evaluate what’s in the best interest of this franchise.”

Earlier, Bowlen told AOL, “I’m not interested in making a coaching change,” despite the team’s 5-16 slide and videotaping scandal.

A message left with McDaniels on Monday night wasn’t immediately returned.

At his weekly news conference earlier in the day, McDaniels said he wasn’t dwelling on whether the Broncos’ problems on and off the field would cost him his job.

“It’s not, you know, not my decision, not something that’s in my control,” McDaniels said. “I’m just going to worry about what I can focus on and try to control the things that I can control.”

Denver’s second-year coach said his only focus is on trying to salvage a 3-8 season sullied by a videotaping scandal that cost him and the team $50,000 each and resulted in a subordinate’s firing over the weekend.

STEELERS Harrison’s appeal denied

PITTSBURGH - The NFL has rejected Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison’s appeals of his $75,000 fine for a hit on Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, and $25,000 fine for slamming helmet-first into New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees’ back.

Harrison, a three-time Pro Bowl linebacker, learned Monday the league turned down his appeals. TheNFL also did not reduce the fines.

Harrison met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell following the tackle on Massaquoi, one of two Harrison delivered Oct. 17 that caused concussions to Browns players. The Massaquoi helmet-to-helmet hit helped spur the league’s stricter enforcement of dangerous hits.

Harrison, fined $100,000 this season for three separate hits, faces another possible fine for his roughing-the-passer penalty Sunday against Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

TITANS

Young having surgery

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young is getting his right thumb repaired.

Young was placed on injured reserve last week, two days after tearing the flexor tendon in the thumb of his throwing hand. He said via Twitter on Monday afternoon that he was about to have surgery and asked for prayers. He also thanked followers for love and support.

Asked about the surgery, Titans Coach Jeff Fisher says his understanding is that Young was having the procedure. Fisher said the Titans were told the surgery was season ending, so he assumes that means five to eight weeks of recovery. The thumb must be immobilized with the tendon reattached with pins.

SUNDAY’S GAMES Houston 20, Tennessee 0 Atlanta 20, Green Bay 17 Minnesota 17, Washington 13 N.Y. Giants 24, Jacksonville 20 Pittsburgh 19, Buffalo 16, OT Cleveland 24, Carolina 23 Kansas City 42, Seattle 24 Miami 33, Oakland 17 St. Louis 36, Denver 33 Chicago 31, Philadelphia 26 Baltimore 17, Tampa Bay 10 San Diego 36, Indianapolis 14 MONDAY’S GAME San Francisco 27, Arizona 6 THURSDAY’S GAME - All times Central Houston at Philadelphia, 7:20 p.m.

DEC. 5 San Francisco at Green Bay, noon Denver at Kansas City, noon.

Buffalo at Minnesota, noon.

Jacksonville at Tennessee, noon Cleveland at Miami, noon Chicago at Detroit, noon Washington at N.Y. Giants, noon New Orleans at Cincinnati, noon Oakland at San Diego, 3:05 p.m.

Carolina at Seattle, 3:15 p.m.

St. Louis at Arizona, 3:15 p.m.

Atlanta at Tampa Bay, 3:15 p.m.

Dallas at Indianapolis, 3:15 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 7:20 p.m.

Dec. 6 NY Jets at New England, 7:30 p.m.

Sports, Pages 20 on 11/30/2010

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