The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
37°F
Current Conditions
Clear sky
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

NFL won’t fine Plummer

Jake Plummer will no longer wear a No. 40 sticker on his helmet to honor slain former teammate Pat Tillman. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Jake Plummer will no longer wear a No. 40 sticker on his helmet to honor slain former teammate Pat Tillman. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Pat Tillman always stood up for what he believed. His friend Jake Plummer wanted to as well, but officials from the NFL weren’t so keen on letting him.

Plummer relented Wednesday, agreeing to adhere to the league’s dress code and remove a sticker from his helmet that honored Tillman, who was killed in the war in Afghanistan after quitting football to join the Army.

“When it comes to honoring Pat, he’s bigger than a sticker on my helmet,” Plummer said. “I don’t like the fact I can’t, but I understand what the league wants to accomplish with its rules and regulations.”

To soften the blow, the NFL said it would not fine Plummer for wearing the sticker last Sunday in violation of league rules. Also, the league agreed to let Plummer tape public-service announcements that honor Tillman and play them in stadiums nationwide on the weekend after Veteran’s Day.

“We, too, want to continue to keep Pat Tillman’s legacy alive, but … we have rules regarding personal messages on uniforms that we needed to apply consistently,” the NFL said in a statement.

Tillman, a former teammate of Plummer’s at Arizona State and with the Arizona Cardinals, quit the league in 2002 to join the Army Rangers. He died in combat in April.

Jets’ Moss questionable with strained hamstring

New York Jets receiver Santana Moss is questionable for Sunday’s game against San Francisco with a strained right hamstring.

Moss was hurt against Buffalo last weekend. Moss, who had a breakout season in 2003 with 10 touchdown receptions, has 11 catches for 231 yards and no touchdowns this season. He didn’t practice Wednesday.

Jenkins out for season with shoulder injury

Carolina’s All-Pro defensive tackle Kris Jenkins will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury that has bothered him all year.

The Panthers placed Jenkins on injured reserve. Coach John Fox said Jenkins will have surgery to correct a torn labrum. Jenkins was injured in Week 2 against Kansas City, but tried to play through the pain, Fox said.

“He was only a shell of himself the last two weeks, he couldn’t extend his arm,” Fox said.

Bryant to kick for Dolphins at Buffalo

Kicker Matt Bryant signed with the Miami Dolphins and is expected to play Sunday at Buffalo in place of Olindo Mare, who is sidelined with an injured right calf.

Bryant kicked for the Indianapolis Colts last week, but was released Monday after one game with the team. He spent his first two NFL seasons with the New York Giants in 2002-03.

Packers assistant undergoes angioplasty

Packers offensive coordinator Tom Rossley underwent emergency heart surgery to clear at least one blocked artery.

“He’s fine, everything went well,” Green Bay coach Mike Sherman said. “He’s at home right now, will probably come in tomorrow.”

Rossley, 58, reported to work Tuesday, hours after the Packers’ 48-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans, and said he hadn’t been feeling well overnight, Sherman said. He went to Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, where tests determined he needed an immediate angioplasty.

Sherman said Rossley wanted to report to work Wednesday, when the Packers installed their game plan for the Lions, but Sherman told him to stay home. Sherman said he wasn’t sure whether Rossley would make the trip to Detroit.