PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Miami’s Smith Goes Into Hiding

Miami running back Sammie Smith, distraught that he lost a fumble at the goal line for the second consecutive week, dropped out of sight Monday.

Smith failed to show for the Dolphins’ day-after-the-game light workout. He apparently couldn’t bear to face teammates after his costly fumble in the final minutes of Miami’s 17-13 loss to Houston on Sunday.

Following the game, Smith told several people--but not Coach Don Shula--that he was going to take some time off.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ballplayer as upset as Sammie was afterward,” Shula said. “He came in to talk to me, and he was so shook, he couldn’t talk.”

Shula said he was told that Smith plans to rejoin the team for its next practice on Thursday. The Dolphins (3-5) have a bye Sunday.

Chicago kicker Kevin Butler has been fined by the NFL but not suspended for a drunken driving offense, the league said.

Butler pleaded guilty to speeding and drunken driving charges after his arrest on Aug. 6, 1991, near his suburban Chicago home.

Butler will contribute the undisclosed fine to charity.

Atlanta Coach Jerry Glanville said two officials in the Falcons’ 16-10 loss to Phoenix admitted they were incorrect in disallowing a Falcon touchdown on an end-zone fumble recovery.

The play occurred when Atlanta kicked off following a first-quarter touchdown. Tracy Johnson and Elbert Shelley forced Cardinal return man Terrence Flagler to fumble and the ball was recovered in the end zone by Atlanta’s Darion Conner.

The officials ruled the play was blown dead while the ball was loose, preventing Atlanta from taking a 14-3 lead.

Said Glanville: “The official (referee Red Cashion) came over and said, ‘We made a mistake. It should have been your ball. It should have been a touchdown, but it’s not.’ He said that to me as the game was being played.”