N.F.L. Fines 16 Players for Illegal Hits

Biermann and Jones received the biggest fines for helmet-to-helmet contact, by Biermann on Seattle quarterback Charlie Whitehurst and Jones for a hit on quarterback .

Seven players were fined for roughing the passer and three for flagrant fouls on defenseless receivers, two points of emphasis by the league this year.

Baltimore free safety Ed Reed was fined $10,000 for hitting New Orleans quarterback in the face. Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher lost $10,000 for striking the defenseless Minnesota tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in the neck and head area, Urlacher’s second violation this season.

Another Bears defender, the rookie safety Major Wright, was also fined $10,000 for hitting the rookie quarterback Joe Webb in the head and neck area and for leading with his helmet.

Two defenders, end Robert Mathis and safety Antoine Bethea, were fined $10,000 each. Mathis struck Jaguars quarterback David Garrard in the head and neck area, and Bethea was punished for helmet-to-helmet contact with Jaguars receiver Mike Thomas.

cornerback Devin McCourty was fined $10,000 for unnecessary roughness against the , and five players were fined $7,500 apiece, including tackle Kevin Williams for a late hit and his teammate Antoine Winfield for a hit on the Bears’ Jay Cutler.

Giants linebacker Jonathan Goff was fined $7,500 for unnecessary roughness for hitting quarterback late and out of bounds, and Eagles cornerback Dimitri Patterson was called for a horse-collar tackle.

JONES-DREW MAY SIT Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew missed a third consecutive day of practice, casting doubt on his availability Sunday against Washington. Jones-Drew has dealt with knee problems most of the season, but his right one really became problematic after his sixth consecutive 100-yard game, Dec. 12 against Oakland. He missed two days of practice last week, and Indianapolis held him to 46 yards last Sunday.

STAYING FOR NOW The San Francisco 49ers are staying put until at least 2014 after the team reached a tentative deal with the city on repairs to Candlestick Park. Mayor met with the 49ers’ president, Jed York, this week to finalize the deal, which settles a $60 million claim filed by the 49ers. The suit charged that the city failed to complete required maintenance on the stadium, including flood control work and the replacement of seats. Under the agreement, the team will get rent credit for doing the repairs itself. It also adds flexibility to its lease after the 2014 season, when the 49ers plan to move to a new stadium in Santa Clara.

STAFFORD DONE FOR YEAR The placed quarterback Matthew Stafford on injured reserve with a separated right shoulder. The move ends Stafford’s season with two games remaining. Stafford played in only three games this season and just 10 last year because of injuries. Stafford’s shoulder was separated in this season’s opener at Chicago. He later aggravated the injury. The move leaves Detroit (4-10) with two banged-up quarterbacks in Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton, along with the rookie Zac Robinson.

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