Lathon Fined $20,000 for Hit

The NFL fined Carolina Panthers linebacker Lamar Lathon $20,000 on Wednesday for his hit to the face mask of Kansas City Chief quarterback Rich Gannon in last Thursday’s exhibition game.

The league said Lathon violated a league policy against helmet-to-helmet contact in the pocket when a quarterback is in a vulnerable position.

The hit left Gannon woozy and spitting blood. He went to the sidelines for one play while trainers attended to his lacerated tongue and a chipped tooth.

After the game, Lathon said he didn’t intentionally try to hurt Gannon. After the Panthers’ practice Wednesday, Lathon waved off reporters.

“I’m playing football,” said Lathon, who tied for second in the NFL last season with 13 1/2 sacks.

The fine was identical to one the NFL levied last week on Denver Bronco linebacker Bill Romanowski for a hit to the face mask of Carolina quarterback Kerry Collins earlier this month.

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So far, Washington Redskin receiver Michael Westbrook has been told only that he will miss tonight’s exhibition game against Miami as punishment for punching teammate Stephen Davis, a running back, at practice Tuesday, and the Washington Post reported he had been fined $10,000. Coach Norv Turner did not say what precipitated the fight, but did say worse penalties await Westbrook.

“Was that a fight? said quarterback Gus Frerotte. “It was one guy hitting another. . . . It makes no sense.”

Running back Terry Allen said, “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life--at least not on a football field.”

Henry Ellard and Leslie Shepherd will be the starting receivers tonight against the Dolphins, while free agent pickup Alvin Harper will probably sit out with an injury.

“Obviously if you are competing for a position and one guy’s there playing and one guy isn’t, then the guy who’s playing has an advantage,” Turner said.

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Erik Kramer, re-signed as a backup in the off-season after playing only four games last season because of two herniated cervical disks, was named the Chicago Bears’ starting quarterback, beating out Rick Mirer. “I knew coming in all along it was Rick’s job. As things progressed, they let me in the quarterback derby a little bit and things worked out,” Kramer said.

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St. Louis Ram offensive lineman Gerald Perry, who was late showing up for training camp and is facing suspension for steroid use, was released after he walked out of a team meeting.

It wasn’t clear why Perry, 32, left the meeting.

“I don’t know the reason behind it, but he was having some personal problems,” team spokesman Rick Smith said.

Perry had been facing a four-game suspension for steroid use, but Smith said that was not a factor in the decision. Coach Dick Vermeil said he had not talked to Perry.