League Issues Big Fines to Players

Tampa Bay’s Ronde Barber was fined $30,000 by the NFL on Wednesday for punching an official during Sunday’s game with the New York Jets.

Two other prominent players, Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed, were fined $15,000 each for making contact with an official during the Ravens’ game in Detroit. Of the three players, only Suggs was ejected. The Ravens’ B.J. Ward, who was ejected from the Baltimore-Detroit game, was not fined. Barber inadvertently hit umpire Butch Hannah in the eye during a scuffle with the Jets’ Kevin Mawae.

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Ricky Williams went through his first regular-season practice with the Miami Dolphins since 2003. Returning from a one-year retirement and four-game suspension at the start of this season for violating the NFL drug policy, Williams took some hits from the defense, and his conditioning seemed good, Coach Nick Saban said. Williams is expected to play Sunday against the Buccaneers at Tampa, Fla.

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Running back Julius Jones (ankle) and linebacker Dat Nguyen (neck) did not go through drills and the Dallas Cowboys aren’t sure whether either will play Sunday against the New York Giants. Both are listed as questionable.... Cleveland Brown receiver Braylon Edwards was released from the hospital but might not play for a month while recovering from an infected right arm.... Minnesota receiver Nate Burleson and cornerback Brian Williams have sprained left knees and will miss Sunday’s game at Chicago.

Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick said he expects to play Sunday against New Orleans after his sprained right knee held up in practice.... Arizona Cardinal quarterback Kurt Warner, who had missed the last two games because of a groin injury, may not return as the starter because Josh McCown has passed for 385 yards in a win over San Francisco and 398 yards in a close loss to Carolina.

Jeremy Shockey, the New York Giants’ flamboyant and sometimes spectacular tight end, signed a five-year, $31.2-million contract extension.... The Chicago Bears cut veteran kicker Doug Brien and replaced him with Robbie Gould.