Vikings’ Moss Gets Into Another Fine Mess

Minnesota Viking receiver Randy Moss received another fine from the NFL on Friday--this time a $10,000 penalty for taunting during Sunday’s 27-24 loss at Detroit.

Moss caught a pass near the Lion sideline and “aggressively confronted the opposing bench,” according to an NFL spokesman.

The league has fined Moss $30,000 for four infractions this season--three times for taunting and once for wearing an unofficial hat on the sidelines during the exhibition season.

Moss was fined $5,000 for flexing toward the Green Bay bench Oct. 21 and $10,000 for strutting into the end zone backward Nov. 19 against the New York Giants.

His agent, Dante DiTrapano, said they plan to appeal the latest fine, as well as the fine stemming from the Giant game.

“Hopefully they could hear both appeals at the same time,” DiTrapano said.

DiTrapano said he believes the NFL is treating Moss differently than other players when it comes to taunting calls.

“It seems to me that the league tends to scrutinize Randy,” he said.

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Former Olympian and Dallas Cowboy star Bob Hayes is out of the hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., and doing well, family members said.

Hayes, who turned 59 on Thursday, is staying at a rehabilitation clinic to complete his recovery from flu-like symptoms that landed him in the hospital for eight days.

“He’s doing just fine,” said his sister, Lena Mae Johnson. “He’s just like his old self.”

Hayes was hospitalized Dec. 11 and had stomach surgery to remove excess fluid.

In February, Hayes was hospitalized for treatment of liver and kidney ailments associated with prostate cancer. His family said the most recent hospitalization wasn’t as serious as the one in February.

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San Diego Charger receiver Jeff Graham probably won’t play Sunday at Kansas City because of the death of his father in a car accident, Coach Mike Riley said.

Graham’s father, Walt Graham, was killed Thursday night near Dayton, Ohio.

The player left San Diego right after hearing the news.

Riley hadn’t talked with Graham, but based on conversations Graham had with other players and the team’s trainer, the coach said he doubts Graham will play.

Graham is the Chargers’ second-leading receiver with 52 catches for 811 yards and five touchdowns.

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Kansas City Chief linebacker Donnie Edwards was fined $12,500 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness for a late hit on Denver Bronco quarterback Gus Frerotte during Sunday’s game.

Frerotte’s complaints to game officials that Edwards hit him with a forearm as the quarterback was sliding at the end of a first-quarter scramble wereignored during the game.

“How do you not call that?” Frerotte said of Edwards’ hit after the Broncos’ 26-23 overtime loss.

Frerotte’s season ended in the third quarter when 288-pound end Rich Owens fell on him and separated his shoulder.

The NFL also cited Edwards for his role in a kicking incident with an unspecified player on a running play.

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New England Patriot receiver Terry Glenn must give $50,000 to a Columbus, Ohio, jeweler for failing to pay for earrings, a judge ruled.

Judge Lisa Sadler let stand her June ruling that Farah Jewelers Inc. had won its lawsuit against Glenn by default because he did not present a defense in the allotted time.

“There will be no appeal on the judgment,” said James Gould, Glenn’s Cincinnati-based agent. “The restitution will be made.”

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Jacksonville placed cornerback Aaron Beasley on injured reserve, making him the fourth Jaguar starter whose season ended prematurely because of injury.

Beasley hurt his shoulder Dec. 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He joins left tackle Tony Boselli, and linebackers Kevin Hardy and T.J. Slaughter on injured reserve.

The Jaguars activated cornerback Renard Cox to take the spot of Beasley, a third-round draft choice in 1996 who is the team’s career interception leader with 15.

Starting in Beasley’s place will be second-year veteran Kiwaukee Thomas, who also started last week when Beasley sat out the game at Cleveland.

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R.J. Bowers, college football’s all-time leading rusher, was added to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster off their practice squad.

Rookie defensive lineman Chris Hoke, an undrafted free agent from Brigham Young who unexpectedly made the team during training camp, was released.

Hoke was inactive for the Steelers’ first 13 games.

Bowers rushed for 7,353 yards and scored 91 touchdowns at Division III Grove City College from 1997-2000 before signing with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent.

After being cut by the Panthers during training camp, Bowers joined the Steelers’ practice squad.

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Roger Goodell was appointed chief operating officer of the NFL and will oversee all league business operations beginning Jan. 1.

The NFL has not had a chief operating officer since the resignation of Neil Austrian as NFL president in 1999.

NFL owners voted in October to merge the league’s three business units--NFL Properties, NFL Enterprises and NFL Films--into one company.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue selected Goodell, 42, to run the new entity.