Broncos’ O’Neal Must Pay for His Bump

Denver cornerback Deltha O’Neal was fined $15,000 Thursday for bumping an official during the Broncos’ game Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens.

O’Neal was ejected in the second quarter of the 34-23 loss on Monday night after he ran into head linesman Tom Stabile. O’Neal was arguing a pass interference call when he ran over to Stabile and bumped him with his chest.

NFL spokesman Steve Alic said the amount of the fine was in line with the severity of the infraction.

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Center Dave Wohlabaugh of the Cleveland Browns may return to the starting lineup Sunday night against the Ravens after sitting out the last three games with a broken right hand.

Wohlabaugh has been out since injuring the hand during practice Sept. 11. He had screws inserted and still wears a cast.

“There’s a real good possibility that Wohlabaugh is going to start,” Brown Coach Butch Davis said. “We’ve given him a significant amount of snaps.”

Wohlabaugh has practiced snapping left-handed, Davis said.

While Wohlabaugh was out, right guard Shaun O’Hara shifted to center. Second-year guard Paul Zukauskas has started the past three games in O’Hara’s spot.

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Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch, who quit the St. Louis Rams three weeks ago, said he would consider returning to professional football if he can play quarterback. The Rams drafted the former Nebraska quarterback as a wide receiver.

“If I play again I’d definitely say it would be as a quarterback,” Crouch said. “My whole life I’ve been a quarterback. I’ve molded myself that way. My best football is when the ball’s in my hands and I have some control over what happens.”

Couch left the Rams after playing in only one preseason game and seeing no regular-season action.

He said his decision was based primarily on lingering injuries, not because he was turned into a wide receiver.

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The San Diego Chargers put cornerback Tay Cody, who has a broken big toe, on injured reserve and signed rookie cornerback Kevin House from the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad.

Cody, a second-year pro, was hurt while covering the opening kickoff of Sunday’s 21-14 win over New England.

House, a rookie free agent from South Carolina, is the son of former NFL wide receiver Kevin House Sr., who played 10 years with Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Rams.