Steelers QB Rudolph fined for role in brawl

Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph didn’t escape the Steelers’ brawl with Cleveland unpunished.

The NFL fined Rudolph $50,000 on Saturday for his involvement in the Week 11 melee that began when Browns defensive end Myles Garrett pulled off Rudolph’s helmet and hit him over the head with it.

Rudolph avoided suspension for his actions — he tried to pull off Garrett’s helmet and charged him — but was among 33 players fined by the league for their involvement. The league penalized 29 players $3,507 apiece for “entering the fight area.”

In all, the league issued more than $700,000 for discipline stemming from the ugly final seconds of Cleveland’s 21-7 win over Pittsburgh. Another $77,206 was assessed for personal fouls earlier in the game.

The league indefinitely suspended Garrett for tearing off Rudolph’s helmet and using it “as a weapon.” His appeal was denied last week, when he told appeals officer James Thrash that Rudolph used a racial slur against him.

Rudolph said there was “no acceptable excuse” for his behavior but denied using a racial slur.

The league also fined the Steelers and Browns $250,000 apiece. The AFC North rivals play again Dec. 1 in Pittsburgh.

In other Steelers news, the NFL closed its investigation of linebacker Anthony Chickillo, who spent a week on the commissioner’s exempt list in October for a domestic violence arrest. Three misdemeanor charges filed against Chickillo by his girlfriend were dropped.

■ Cowboys: Coach Jason Garrett said he is unsure if linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (neck) will play again this season, though he doesn’t believe the Boise State product’s injury is career-threatening.

Vander Esch was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie last season, when he had 176 tackles. He sustained a stinger in Dallas’ Week 7 win over Philadelphia and sat out the week after the Cowboys’ Week 8 bye.

■ Patriots: Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (concussion, questionable) hasn’t been cleared to resume football activities. Also, wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (ankle, questionable) is not expected to play Sunday, the Boston Herald reported.

■ Eagles: Safety Rudy Ford (abdomen) a core player on special teams, was placed on injured reserve, and wide receiver Greg Ward was promoted from Philadelphia’s practice squad. Review-Journal wire servies