Lineup Change for Redskin Announcer

Public address announcer Bruce Kelley will be replaced by the Washington Redskins for Monday night’s game against the Tennessee Titans, team officials said.

The move is an attempt to comply with league policies and avoid future problems with the NFL. Kelly’s replacement has not been named.

During an Oct. 15 game against Baltimore, Kelly made a derogatory comment about Raven fans over the stadium P.A. system. Raven officials at the game were angry. Redskin officials later instructed Kelly to write a letter of apology to the Ravens.

The Redskins were fined $20,000 by the NFL after their Oct. 1 victory over Tampa Bay at FedEx Field for similar conduct. The Redskins have appealed the Tampa Bay fine.

The Detroit Lions complained to the league after a playoff loss at FedEx Field last season, according to league sources. In addition to the Buccaneers and Ravens complaining this year, the Dallas Cowboys also complained to the NFL about excessive noise at FedEx Field.

During the game against Tampa Bay, Kelly appealed to the crowd before plays, saying, “It’s third down, Redskins fans, so get up and cheer!” After being told by the league that was improper cheerleading, Redskin officials say they changed their announcements for the Raven game to say: “It’s third down!” Still, the Ravens complained informally to the league that the noise was excessive and unsportsmanlike.

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Philadelphia running back Duce Staley, on crutches after foot surgery two weeks ago, fell when he tried to navigate past a puddle created from a leaking pipe outside the coaches’ offices at Veterans Stadium.

The Eagles, who are looking for the city to move ahead with plans for a new stadium, reacted angrily, saying the city was notified Thursday night about the leak.

“It was a problem,” Coach Andy Reid said. “Honestly, it was a scary minute there. He took a big-time spill.

“There was a leak in a pipe upstairs from what I understand. I didn’t go up there and check that pipe, but I do know that one of my coaches has water in his office and there’s water outside that area there. I believe they were notified [Thursday night] about it, and it didn’t get done.”

The problem was taken care of after Staley’s fall. Staley was taken for X-rays, which the Eagles said were negative.

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Sean Gilbert of the Carolina Panthers was fined $5,000 for violating the league’s dress code--showing too much white on his uniform’s socks. The violation came during last week’s game against San Francisco.