Shell defends Brayton
Oakland Raiders coach Art Shell worked in the NFL office long enough to know that Tyler Brayton will be punished for kneeing Seattle’s Jerramy Stevens in the groin.
Shell just hopes the punishment will be a fine, not a suspension, because he said videotape showed that Brayton was only reacting to a kick from Stevens.
“Tyler was reacting to someone trying to kick him in the groin area,” Shell said Tuesday. “So there was a reaction to that. Sometimes when there’s pushing and shoving, you might not react. But when that happens, guys will react and he did. There will be something. What it is, I don’t know. Could be a fine. Hopefully, that’s all it will be.”
Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren disagreed with Shell’s interpretation of the tape, saying Stevens’ foot got extended as he tried to disengage from Brayton.
“It wasn’t anything close to resembling what actually occurred, afterward …,” Holmgren said, comparing what Stevens did to Brayton’s reaction. “If you look at the film, I think it’s pretty clear that’s not what happened.”
Both Brayton and Stevens were unavailable for comment.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league was looking into the play and could have a decision on further punishment as soon as today.
Shell said he hopes that Stevens gets the same punishment that Brayton does.
Chargers-Broncos game moved
The NFL has moved the San Diego Chargers’ game at Denver from Sunday afternoon to 5:15 p.m. PST on Nov. 19.
The game will be broadcast nationally by NBC as part of the flexible schedule negotiated into the current television contract.
Also, the Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys game has been switched from 10 a.m. PST to 1:15 p.m. PST. That game will be on CBS.
The first game switched from Sunday afternoon to prime time is this weekend, when the Chicago Bears play at the New York Giants.
Around the league
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was fined $15,000 for remarks made to a member of referee Tony Corrente’s officiating crew during a 20-13 loss at Oakland on Oct. 29. … The Denver Broncos placed safety Sam Brandon on injured reserve. Brandon tore his right anterior cruciate ligament Sunday at Pittsburgh. … The Kansas City Chiefs claimed cornerback Marcus Maxey off waivers from Chicago. Maxey, Kansas City’s fifth-round selection in this year’s draft, was released by the Chiefs on Sept. 29 and claimed off waivers by Chicago. … Buffalo Bills receiver Josh Reed was released from the hospital, two days after suffering a bruised kidney. The Bills didn’t update Reed’s condition or say whether he’ll play Sunday in Buffalo’s game at Indianapolis. … The Cincinnati Bengals signed center Ben Wilkerson to a four-year deal. Wilkerson signed with the Bengals in 2005 as a free agent, but spent last year recovering from a torn knee ligament suffered at Louisiana State. Cornerback Greg Brooks was placed on injured reserve after having knee surgery Monday, and offensive tackle Adam Kieft was put on the reserve physically-unable-to-perform list after not recovering from a knee injury suffered two summers ago. … The Miami Dolphins signed guard Toniu Fonoti, and waived tight end Jason Rader. … The Jacksonville Jaguars re-signed wide receiver Chad Owens to the practice squad, four days after waiving the second-year player from Hawaii.