NFL notebook: Roethlisberger has sprained shoulder
BY Associated Press
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
11/14/12 at 3:33 AM
Ben Roethlisberger left Heinz Field on Monday night with his sprained right shoulder in a sling. When he walks back in ready to play is anybody's guess.
Head coach Mike Tomlin called Pittsburgh's franchise quarterback "questionable" but otherwise offered little detail Tuesday, less than 24 hours after Roethlisberger was pounded into the ground by Kansas City linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston in the third quarter of Pittsburgh's 16-13 overtime victory.
Roethlisberger left the game and went to the hospital for an MRI exam. He underwent more tests on Tuesday to determine the severity of the sprain to the sternoclavicular (SC) joint in his throwing shoulder.
Discipline issues contributing to Chiefs losses: Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel says he plans to speak to his team about discipline issues that cropped up during Monday night's loss at Pittsburgh, including an instance in which Kansas City was flagged for a group celebration.
Crennel says he isn't sure where the celebrations came from, but acknowledged that "with the record we have, they can't afford to be dancing." The overtime loss to Pittsburgh dropped Kansas City to 1-8.
Crennel also says he hasn't decided on a starting quarterback for next week's game against Cincinnati. Brady Quinn hasn't been cleared to play following a concussion.
Governor objects to Vikings stadium fee ideas: Gov. Mark Dayton criticized the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday for considering extra fees on season ticket holders as a way to help cover the team's share of a new $975 million stadium.
In a letter to team owners Zygi and Mark Wilf, Dayton said he strongly opposed "shifting any part of the team's responsibility for those costs onto Minnesota Vikings fans. This Private Contribution is your responsibility, not theirs."
Many NFL teams that built new stadiums in recent years have relied on such fees, also called personal seat licenses, that are usually a one-time charge on top of the cost of a season ticket.
Bills WR Johnson questions play call: Two days later, receiver Stevie Johnson still can't get over how the Buffalo Bills botched their final play in a loss to the New England Patriots last weekend.
On Tuesday, Johnson second-guessed why a more experienced receiver wasn't targeted on a play that ended with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing an interception into the end zone. And Johnson also came to T.J. Graham's defense, saying the rookie receiver shouldn't be faulted for running the wrong route.
"I don't think it was the wrong play. But just the whole thing leading up to it," Johnson said, noting that he, receiver Donald Jones and tight end Scott Chandler were more familiar at running the route.
"So it's no blame on T.J. at all, because he's never run that route in practice or in a game."
Coach Chan Gailey, on Monday, took the blame by saying he should've called a different play.
Associated Images:
Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is sacked by Kansas City's Tamba Hali during Monday's game in Pittsburgh. DON WRIGHT / AP
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