Cox Fined $10,000 for Tirade

Chicago Bear linebacker Bryan Cox was fined $10,000 Tuesday by Coach Dave Wannstedt for his latest outburst, which resulted in three straight unsportsmanlike conduct calls in a span of two plays during the fourth quarter of Monday night’s 38-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

“I can’t remember being that out of control in a long time,” Cox said. “It was just a frustration, it was wrong again and I understand Dave’s actions.”

Wannstedt said, “It was first game of the season and conduct like that, you can’t just tolerate it.”

The NFL said Cox has been fined eight times in four seasons, totaling $123,000.

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Steve Young’s neurologist doesn’t want him to play in San Francisco’s game against St. Louis Sunday, said Leigh Steinberg, Young’s agent. Young suffered his third concussion in 11 months Sunday against Tampa Bay, although his latest was considered mild in comparison to the previous two.

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Dallas Cowboy offensive lineman Nate Newton was cleared of allegations that he raped his former mistress in Dallas. First Assistant District Attorney Norm Kinne said the woman’s credibility was harmed by her monetary negotiations with Newton before going to police.

The woman now plans to file a civil lawsuit, her attorney said.

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The Green Bay Packers will turn to second-year pro Tyrone Williams to replace cornerback Craig Newsome, who was lost for the season Monday night after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against the Chicago Bears.

The Packers will look to add another cornerback, as well as a tight end to replace Mark Chmura, who was lost for up to six weeks because of a torn posterior cruciate knee ligament.

The Packers were reportedly trying to re-sign tight end Reggie Johnson, whom they released last week after trading for the New York Jets’ Tyrone Davis.

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The Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran free-agent defensive end Richard Dent, 36, and linebacker Jeff Herrod, 31, to one-year contracts. . . . With two of their four starting linebackers hobbled by ankle sprains, the Carolina Panthers re-signed Carlton Bailey, who had played two seasons with the team, but was not re-signed in the off-season. Linebacker Lamar Lathon and Sam Mills are questionable for Sunday’s game against Atlanta. . . . Attendance at NFL games for the opening week of the season was up by more than 5,000 fans per game over last year. Total attendance at the 15 openers was 933,647, an average of 62,243. The first week of the 1996 season drew 928,263, an average of 61,884.