Buccaneers Fire Assistant

A Tampa Bay assistant coach reported missing by the Buccaneers since last weekend was fired after returning home from Atlanta and meeting with Coach Tony Dungy.

Wendell Avery, a former college teammate of Dungy’s who was in his second season as an offensive assistant, was let go Thursday so that he can resolve unspecified personal matters.

The team filed a missing person’s report with Atlanta police on Monday, a day after Avery failed to show up for a game against the Falcons at the Georgia Dome. It’s unclear exactly when he left the club, but the last team function he attended was a staff meeting at the team hotel Saturday night.

The Buccaneers had little to say about the situation while Avery, 44, was considered missing. And details remained sketchy after Dungy announced the dismissal after practice Thursday.

“Wendell has some personal issues that he’s dealing with and based on that, it’s our feeling that we let him concentrate on that,” Dungy said.

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A charge that Washington defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield assaulted his wife was dropped at Fairfax, Va. Prosecutors abandoned the charge less than an hour before the trial was to begin.

Stubblefield was arrested at his home in Great Falls, Va., on Sept. 20 after an argument about luggage escalated and Kim Stubblefield called police. Police said there were no signs of physical injury and that Kim Stubblefield declined medical treatment.

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The Redskins signed 44-year-old Eddie Murray to handle field goals and signed Scott Bentley for kickoffs. They are the fourth and fifth kickers employed by the team this season. The Redskins also signed former Oakland receiver Kenny Shedd to bolster the special teams. To make room on the roster, linebacker Reggie Givens and guard Derek Fletcher were released.

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Tampa Bay’s Steve White was fined $7,500 by the NFL for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Chris Chandler that knocked the Atlanta quarterback out of last Sunday’s game. . . . Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman practiced again, making it likely he will start Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. . . . Minnesota receiver Cris Carter was fined $5,000 for kicking a player during last Monday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers.