RAVENS CB PETERS FINED FOR SPITTING

Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters can deny it all he wants, but the NFL thought he spit at Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry.

The league fined Peters $12,500 on Saturday for his actions, which were followed by a back-and-forth verbal battle between the players this week.

Peters was fined for unsportsmanlike conduct despite not being penalized during Baltimore’s 47-42 win over Cleveland.

TV footage caught Peters spitting in Landry’s direction at the end of the first quarter. Landry had his back turned and didn’t know what Peters had done until after the game.

Landry responded by calling Peters “a coward.”

“I think he knew that maybe behind my back he could do things like that, but to my face he wouldn’t,” Landry said. “So I take it for what it’s worth and now I know. Everybody knows what type of player he is, what type of person he is.”

Peters said in a statement released by the Ravens that he didn’t spit at Landry.

“Where I come from, when you have an issue with someone, you deal with it face to face, man to man,” Peters said. “Anyone who believes that I intentionally spit at him does not know me — plain and simple.”

Peters was filmed by a teammate on the team’s flight calling Landry and Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr. “home girls.”

Notable

The Saints placed receiver

Michael Thomas (ankle) on injured reserve, a move that allows the Saints to give a healthy player Thomas’ active roster spot for their final three regular-season games while resting their star receiver for the playoffs.

The Jets activated kicker

Sam Ficken from injured reserve and he is expected to play today at Los Angeles against the Rams.

The Steelers will have to try to clinch the AFC North title with a new-look offensive line. The Steelers (11-2) ruled out rookie left guard Kevin Dotson for Monday night’s game against the Bengals (210-1). Dotson suffered a shoulder injury in last Sunday’s loss to Buffalo.

Quarterback Brandon Allen (knee) is out for Monday’s game, the Bengals said.

Ryan Finley is expected to start in his place.