Around the league
GAFFES MOUNT AS UNION BACKS REGULAR REFS
NEW YORK — The NFL players' union sent an open letter to team owners calling for an end to the lockout of on-field officials and hinting that it's a violation of the contract between the players and the league.
The players emphasized in the letter, posted Sunday on the union's website, that a lack of a safe working environment exists with replacement officials working.
Domonique Foxworth, president of the NFL Players Association, Drew Brees and Scott Fujita were among the union members who signed it.
The letter came before a litany of officiating issues in Week 3:
• In the Lions-Titans and Bengals-Redskins games, officials marched off too much yardage on penalties.
• The 49ers got two video challenges after calling timeout in the fourth quarter. Neither challenge should have been allowed once coach Jim Harbaugh asked for time.
• A catch by Dolphins TE Anthony Fasano was upheld after review, though video showed the ball touched the ground as he was tackled.
BRONCOS: Former WR Rod Smith was inducted into the Denver Ring of Fame.
BROWNS: Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown said he had a "fantastic" meeting with presumptive owner Jimmy Haslam III and discussed a potential future role with the team. Haslam said: "Jim and I both agreed that it makes total sense for him to be involved with the Browns, and we both agreed it didn't make sense to rush into anything."
CHIEFS: WR Dexter McCluster, a former Largo High star, injured his arm in the third quarter.
COLTS: WR Austin Collie (right knee) left early in the third quarter. … Edgerrin James became the fifth player inducted into their Ring of Honor.
COWBOYS: S Barry Church is out for the season after rupturing an Achilles tendon against the Bucs.
DOLPHINS: RB Reggie Bush limped off with an apparent left knee injury.
49ERS: Randy Moss moved past Tim Brown into fourth on the all-time receiving list with 14,946 yards. … LB Patrick Willis left with an injury to his lower right leg.
JETS: CB Darrelle Revis (left knee) left in the third quarter.
RAIDERS: Former RB Marcus Allen lit the eternal flame honoring Al Davis, a symbolic gesture toward the late owner, with whom Allen had feuded for years.
REDSKINS: Starting LT Trent Williams (right knee) will have an MRI exam today but said he did not fear the injury was serious.
TITANS: They became the first NFL team to score five touchdowns of 60 yards or longer in one game.
VIKINGS: S Mistral Raymond, a former USF standout, was carted off with a right ankle injury.
NUMBER OF THE DAY
700 Career catches for Arizona WR Larry Fitzgerald. At 29, he became the youngest player with that many just a week after Cowboys TE Jason Witten, 30, became the youngest to reach 700.
Times wires
Loading...