NFL official suspended for making ‘derogatory statement’ to player

An NFL game official was suspended Friday for one game without pay for making “a profane and derogatory statement” to a Washington Redskins player, an incident that has led to a call for NFL players to stop using the N-word on the field and in the locker room.

The league announced Friday that umpire Roy Ellison will not work an NFL game this weekend as punishment for words directed at left tackle Trent Williams late in the second quarter of the Redskins’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

The National Football League Referees Assn. issued a statement Friday evening saying that it will file a grievance, that the suspension was a rush to judgment without hearing Ellison’s side of the story.

Williams said he was called vulgar names — although not the N-word — by Ellison and did nothing to provoke it. A replay from the second quarter shows Ellison gesturing at Williams while walking backward just before a snap, with Williams, quarterback Robert Griffin III and tight end Niles Paul turning to look back at the umpire. Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan was among those who supported Williams, saying: “You just can’t use that type of language to get your point across.”

But John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, a group that includes minority coaches and officials, said his organization spoke to game officials who said that Ellison was responding after Williams directed the N-word at Ellison. Both Williams and Ellison are African American.

Incognito meets again with NFL official

Suspended Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito met with NFL special investigator Ted Wells for a second consecutive day Friday to discuss the team’s bullying scandal, multiple media outlets reported.

WTVJ-TV in South Florida videotaped Incognito arriving at the Dolphins’ complex for the meeting accompanied by four other people, including the team’s security chief.

On Thursday, Incognito agreed to postpone his grievance hearing challenging the suspension until Wells completes his investigation.

Welker listed as probable

Five days after leaving a game with a concussion, Broncos receiver Wes Welker was cleared for full practice Friday and listed as probable for Denver’s game against New England.

Etc.

The San Francisco 49ers signed cornerback Tramaine Brock to a $16-million, four-year contract extension that takes him through the 2017 season. The 49ers announced the deal late Friday, and Brock was expected to move into the starting lineup for Monday night’s game at Washington in place of the injured Tarell Brown. Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta might be ready to make his season debut Sunday after being sidelined since July with a hip injury. Pitta returned to practice this week for the first time after he dislocated and fractured his hip on the second day of training camp. ... The Kansas City Chiefs had hoped wide receiver Kyle Williams would provide some speed and a spark to an offense that was desperately in need of both. But little more than a week after he was claimed off waivers from San Francisco, and after just one game spent on special teams, Williams was placed on injured reserve Friday after partially tearing the ACL in his surgically repaired left knee during practice on Thursday. ... Dolphins center Mike Pouncey is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers because he’s recovering from a gall bladder ailment.