Redskins’ Westbrook Apologizes to Fans

Less than a week after attacking teammate Stephen Davis, wide receiver Michael Westbrook rejoined the Washington Redskins on Monday and spoke to reporters for the first time since the team fined him $50,000.

“I thought it was very important that I came out here to say an apology to Redskins’ fans, the owner, my teammates, because it’s a great embarrassment for the way I reacted out there on the field,” Westbrook said after his first practice since the attack.

Westbrook took no questions, maintaining the mystery of what had prompted him to punch Davis several times on the sideline during a practice, leaving the running back face down and bleeding.

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A tape of the 911 call that alerted police to an alleged drug transaction involving Tampa Bay Buccaneer defensive tackle Warren Sapp was played in court Monday.

Sapp was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession after police, acting on the anonymous tip, stopped the football player’s Mercedes in June and found 3.7 grams of marijuana in the car’s console.

The caller on the 911 tape is heard identifying Sapp as one of two men who entered a home in an east Tampa neighborhood to purchase drugs.

Sapp, who pleaded innocent and has not commented on the case publicly, did not attend Monday’s hearing.

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Carolina wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad and tackle Norberto Davidds-Garrido disputed recent newspaper accounts of incidents reportedly involving quarterback Kerry Collins and two teammates. According to one paper, Collins directed a racial epithet at Muhammad, and according to another was hit in the face by Davidds-Garrido.

Davidds-Garrido said he and Collins were wrestling playfully and that he accidentally poked Collins under one eye. Muhammad said Collins had not directed any epithets at him.

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The San Francisco 49ers will start Gary Plummer at middle linebacker ahead of Kevin Mitchell, who had a disappointing exhibition season. . . . Veteran Jerry Reynolds, who only played two quarters in the preseason, will replace Derek Engler as starting center for the New York Giants.