Broncos Accept Fine of Nearly $1 Million

Although disappointed and confused by the ruling, Denver Coach Mike Shanahan said the Broncos will abide by an NFL decision that will cost the team a third-round draft choice and a fine of nearly $1 million.

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue found the Broncos guilty of violating guidelines under the league’s deferred compensation fund.

The team was fined $305,000 and ordered to pay $663,000 in interest on money the team failed to submit in a timely fashion to the league’s deferred compensation fund during a two-year period from 1998-99.

Under league rules, each NFL team is required to place a certain portion of its deferred players’ and coaches’ salaries into a league reserve fund.

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Detroit Lion quarterback Charlie Batch was put on injured reserve, ending his season.

Batch separated his right shoulder during the third quarter of winless Detroit’s loss at Chicago on Sunday.

Rookie Mike McMahon will start Sunday at Tampa Bay. He will be backed up by Ty Detmer and former University of Michigan quarterback Scott Dreisbach, who signed Tuesday.

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Minnesota Viking quarterback Daunte Culpepper, slowed by a sprained left knee, didn’t practice and remains questionable for Sunday’s game against Tennessee

Culpepper spent the first half-hour of practice riding a stationary bike while backup Todd Bouman worked with the first-team offense.

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Atlanta Falcon quarterback Chris Chandler practiced and expects to start in a key NFC West game against New Orleans.

Chandler, hindered by injuries throughout his career, sprained his left ankle in last Sunday’s 35-6 loss to the St. Louis Rams.

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Running back Ricky Watters is back, giving the Seattle Seahawks a lift in their bid to make the playoffs.

Watters practiced for the first time since hurting his right shoulder Sept. 30, and is listed as questionable for Sunday night’s game at Denver.

“Oh, man, it’s going to be great for the team,” rookie wide receiver Koren Robinson said. “He’s going to help the team out a lot. We need him.”

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The Arizona Cardinals will be without one starting guard, and maybe both, when they go after their fourth victory in a row Sunday against the Washington Redskins.

Left guard Pete Kendall will miss several weeks because of a sprained left foot, and right guard Leonard Davis is questionable because of back spasms.

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Receivers Joe Jurevicius, Ron Dixon and Thabiti Davis were all forced to leave the New York Giants’ practice with injuries that should not sideline them for Sunday’s game with the Dallas Cowboys. ... Oakland released wide receiver David Dunn days after he fumbled a punt that led to the Raiders’ 34-31 overtime loss to Arizona. ... The Jacksonville Jaguars waived receiver Alvis Whitted. ... The Indianapolis Colts, plagued all season by short kickoffs and facing another possible blow with an injury to kicker Mike Vanderjagt, have signed veteran Doug Brien.