Jets Fine Robinson for Carrying Weapon

Safety Damien Robinson was fined a week’s pay by the New York Jets after being charged with taking an assault rifle into a Giants Stadium parking lot at East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday, several hours before the Jets defeated the Miami Dolphins.

Robinson was arrested after police found in his truck a Bushmaster .223 assault rifle, three high-capacity magazines that hold 30 rounds each and two boxes of ammunition containing 100 rounds each.

The rifle and the magazines are illegal under a 1990 New Jersey law that bans the sale and possession of many kinds of automatic weapons.

Police charged Robinson before the game, allowed him to play against the Dolphins and had him arraigned afterward.

Robinson was released Sunday night on $7,500 bail. He could face up to five years in prison if convicted.

“I went to the shooting range with a rifle that was legally purchased,” Robinson said Tuesday. “I inadvertently left it in the back of my truck when I went to the stadium with my family. It was closed up in a case and not loaded.... I have and will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities.”

Robinson was entering the players’ parking lot at about 10 a.m. with his wife and two daughters when police searched his truck, a procedure in place for players, team and game officials, and reporters since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

*

Defensive tackle Damian Gregory of the Miami Dolphins had emergency surgery late Monday night to remove his spleen, negating a trade with the Cleveland Browns.

Just hours after the Dolphins agreed to trade him to Cleveland for a conditional seventh-round draft pick, Gregory needed surgery after being injured in a car accident Sunday night.

Dolphin Coach Dave Wannstedt said he did not know Gregory was injured while the teams were negotiating the trade.

The Dolphins were trying to trade Gregory after he argued with defensive line coach Clarence Brooks and with Wannstedt after Thursday’s practice. He was thrown out of the locker room by Wannstedt and his locker was emptied.

Marty Carter, who started 31 games for the Atlanta Falcons at strong safety, was waived by the team. Carter, 31, was third on the team with 32 tackles. He led the Falcons with 131 tackles last season.... The Minnesota Vikings acquired defensive lineman Stalin Colinet from the Browns on Monday for an undisclosed draft pick. Colinet played for the Vikings from 1997-99.... Quarterback Shane Matthews re-signed with the Chicago Bears, who waived long snapper Ryan Benjamin. Matthews was released last week so the Bears could sign Benjamin as an emergency replacement for the injured Patrick Mannelly.... The Cincinnati Bengals put cornerback Rodney Heath, who tore his left hamstring in Sunday’s game against the Browns, on injured reserve. He will be sidelined for the season. The Bengals signed cornerback Ligarius Jennings off the Detroit Lions’ practice squad.... Running back Jamal Anderson of the Atlanta Falcons had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, his second season-ending surgery in three years. Anderson was injured in Atlanta’s 34-13 victory at Arizona on Sept. 30.