AROUND THE NFL : Bears’ Cutler is fined $20,000

A bad season for the Chicago Bears just got worse.

The NFL said Friday that quarterback Jay Cutler had been fined $20,000 for abusive conduct toward a game official during a 41-21 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Cutler drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty with 6 minutes 24 seconds left in the third quarter after an incomplete pass to tight end Greg Olsen on a fourth-down play with the Bears trailing 34-7. Cutler apparently thought there should have been an interference penalty.

The fine came one day after Cutler threw five interceptions during a 10-6 loss at San Francisco. Cutler has thrown an NFL-worst 17 interceptions this season for the Bears (4-5), who have lost four of five.

The NFL also said defensive lineman Tommie Harris had been fined $7,500 for punching Cardinals offensive lineman Deuce Lutui on the fourth play from scrimmage. Harris was ejected and later apologized.

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Ochocinco also fined

Chad Ochocinco’s pretend $1 bribe is going to cost him a lot more.

The Cincinnati Bengals receiver was fined $20,000 and reprimanded by the NFL for taking a dollar bill onto the field during an officials’ review of one of his catches Sunday. Ochocinco held the dollar in his right hand at his side but didn’t give it to the official, who motioned for him to stay away.

Ochocinco said he was only having fun, but the league didn’t like it.

Ray Anderson, the league’s executive vice president of football operations, sent Ochocinco a letter that said: “The very appearance of impropriety is not acceptable. Your conduct was unprofessional and unbecoming an NFL player.”

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Westbrook will play

Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook will be back on the field Sunday against the San Diego Chargers after sitting out two games because of a concussion.

Westbrook, who also has been bothered by a sore ankle, practiced twice this week. He deemed himself ready to go Friday before the team left for its flight to California.

“I’m feeling a lot better,” Westbrook said. “I’m ready to go.”

Westbrook, already limited much of this season because of knee and ankle injuries, suffered the concussion when he took a knee to the head in the Eagles’ Oct. 26 win over the Washington Redskins.

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Etc.

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield says his injured right foot still isn’t quite ready and he will not play against Detroit on Sunday. The Pro Bowl player has sat out the last two games and was hoping to be ready coming off the team’s bye week. . . . New York Jets linebacker Vernon Gholston was listed as doubtful for the team’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars because of a strained hamstring. Wide receiver Brad Smith and cornerback Lito Sheppard are both expected to play after missing a few weeks because of quadriceps injuries.