League not fine with Hill’s use of peace sign
Hall of Famer Ditka recovering after suffering mild heart attack
NEW YORK — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill was fined $10,026 by the NFL on Saturday for taunting after he flashed a peace sign at the end of a touchdown catch.
Hill was running into the end zone during a 73-yard reception in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 54-51 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Monday night when he turned back at a pursuing defender and raised two fingers at him — a gesture he has done previously without being fined. He was assessed a 15-yard penalty for taunting.
Hill was penalized but not fined last week when he jumped into the stands after a touchdown and started operating a television camera.
Chiefs safety Eric Murray was docked $26,739 for unnecessary roughness during the opening drive of the game.
Denver safety Justin Simmons was fined $53,482 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on a defenseless receiver in the Broncos’ 23-22 win over the Chargers last Sunday.
The Chargers’ Jeff Richards was docked $26,739 for unnecessary roughness on a hit during a kickoff return. Los Angeles teammate Derwin James has to pay $10,026 for a face-mask penalty.
Jacksonville’s Calais Campbell was fined $20,054 for roughing the passer after his hit on Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger in the Jaguars’ 20-16 loss. The penalty wiped out an interception by Myles Jack.
Campbell wrote on Twitter that he was “shocked by the call and even more shocked by the fine!” He added that he planned to appeal the league’s decision.
Jaguars teammates Yannick Ngakoue and Telvin Smith were each fined $10,026 for unnecessary roughness calls.
The Giants’ Olivier Vernon was docked $20,054 for his roughing-the-passer penalty on Tampa Bay’s Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Minnesota’s Harrison Smith has to pay $10,026 for his hit that injured Chicago quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who went to ground at the end of a run and hurt his right shoulder. Trubisky missed the Bears’ next game on Thanksgiving Day against the Detroit Lions.
New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara was docked $10,026 for unsportsmanlike conduct after he tossed a ball at an opponent.
Among others fined $10,026 by the league Saturday: Indianapolis’ George Odum (unnecessary roughness), Cincinnati’s Dre’ Kirkpatrick (unsportsmanlike conduct) and Green Bay’s Bashaud Breeland (unnecessary roughness).
DITKA RECOVERING: In Chicago, Hall of Fame tight end and former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka is recovering from a mild heart attack.
Steve Mandell, Ditka’s agent, tells ESPN that doctors inserted a pacemaker. He says Ditka is “doing much better,” and the iconic coach “appreciates the outpouring of support and expects to be home soon.”
The Bears wished Ditka a “speedy recovery” on Twitter.
The 79-year-old Ditka played 12 seasons in the NFL and made the Pro Bowl five times. He finished with 427 receptions for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns.
Ditka might be best known for his coaching career. He coached the Bears and the New Orleans Saints, finishing with a 121-95 record in 14 years, and he led Chicago to the Super Bowl title after the 1985 season.
49ERS: San Francisco wide receiver Marquise Goodwin is doubtful to play Sunday in the 49ers’ game at Tampa Bay, having been excused to handle a personal matter.
The team made the announcement Saturday that Goodwin had left the team. San Francisco (2-8) also promoted running back Jeff Wilson Jr. from the practice squad to the active roster while waiving quarterback Tom Savage.
Goodwin’s fellow starting receiver Pierre Garcon is also out because of a knee injury that kept him from practicing this week.
Goodwin has 17 receptions this season for 339 yards and four touchdowns.
Wilson, an undrafted free agent out of North Texas, had joined the practice squad Sept. 2 after being cut the previous day.
PACKERS: Green Bay placed Nick Perry on injured reserve with a knee injury, ending the veteran outside linebacker’s season.
Rookie defensive end James Looney, a seventh-round pick out of California, was signed from the practice squad to take Perry’s spot on the roster ahead of the road game tonight against the Minnesota Vikings as the Packers attempt to earn their first road victory of the season.
In Week 2, the teams played to a 29-29 tie at Lambeau Field.
Perry, who was counted on to provide pass-rush punch from the edge along with Clay Matthews, finishes the season with 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He was also limited by an ankle injury this year.