Moss Is Fined $10,000 for His Celebration

Randy Moss didn’t practice for the second day in a row because of a sprained right ankle, but Minnesota’s star receiver remains probable for Sunday’s divisional playoff game at Philadelphia.

Earlier Thursday, Moss was fined $10,000 by the NFL for pretending to pull down his pants and moon the Green Bay fans at Lambeau Field during the Vikings’ playoff victory last weekend. Moss aggravated the ankle injury during the game.

Peter Hadhazy, the league’s director of game operations, penalized Moss for unsportsmanlike conduct in a letter that the NFL released.

“Your actions were based on poor judgment, did not reflect well on you or the Vikings, and were insulting to many,” Hadhazy wrote.

Moss also briefly bumped the goalpost before hugging teammates in the end zone after his fourth-quarter touchdown catch that clinched the Vikings’ 31-17 victory.

League rules mandate discipline for “obscene gestures or other actions construed as being in poor taste.” A fine for the first offense under those guidelines is $5,000.

Moss hasn’t previously been fined for such an action, but he paid a $25,000 penalty in 1999 for squirting an official with a water bottle.

Viking running back Moe Williams (sprained right ankle), meanwhile, was upgraded to questionable, and Coach Mike Tice said he expected the veteran to be able to play a limited role against the Eagles.

Strong safety Corey Chavous (broken left elbow) is the only player the Vikings aren’t counting on for Sunday, Tice said.

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New York Jet linebacker Eric Barton was fined $7,500 by the NFL for his hit on San Diego Charger quarterback Drew Brees during Saturday’s playoff game, and said that he plans to appeal the penalty.

Barton was flagged for roughing the passer after hitting Brees in the head with his forearm and elbow on fourth down.

The penalty nearly cost the Jets the game, because the Chargers got a new set of downs, and Brees threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates one play later to send the game into overtime.

The Jets won, 20-17, and will play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday in the next round of the playoffs.

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Jet quarterback Chad Pennington returned to practice, one day after sitting out because of a stomach virus. He did light drills and stretching during the 15 minutes that practice was open to reporters.

Quincy Carter was still absent after leaving the team to be with his ill mother in Georgia. No. 3 quarterback Brooks Bollinger is listed as the backup.

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Bob Harlan, president of the Green Bay Packers, plans to strip Coach Mike Sherman of his general manager duties and is targeting the Seattle Seahawks’ Ted Thompson as a replacement, a Packer source told Associated Press.

The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed published reports that Harlan is pursuing Thompson, who is Seattle’s vice president of football operations and used to work for the Packers.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Green Bay Press-Gazette and Wisconsin State Journal all reported that the Packers want to hire Thompson.

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The Buffalo Bills granted Travis Henry permission to seek a trade, giving the disgruntled running back a chance to become a starter again after losing his job to Willis McGahee.

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Joe Bailey, a former Dallas Cowboy and NFL executive, was named chief executive of the Miami Dolphins. He’ll succeed Eddie Jones, who plans to retire this spring after nine years as team president.