Sapp fined $75,000 for confrontation

Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp was fined $75,000 on Thursday by the NFL for his confrontation with game officials that led to his ejection last week.

Sapp, however, avoided a suspension.

The league said Sapp was punished for “physical and verbal actions toward game officials that drew an unprecedented three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and ejection from last Sunday’s game.”

Defensive end Derrick Burgess was also fined $25,000 for verbally abusing an official during the same sequence.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t practice with the starting offense for the second day in a row and is all but certain to sit out the team’s final regular-season game Sunday in Baltimore. Steelers left tackle Marvel Smith needs back surgery and won’t play against Baltimore or in a first-round playoff game next weekend.

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The New England Patriots released linebacker Chad Brown. Brown, who played two games in his 15th NFL season, was cut two days before the Patriots try to complete a 16-0 regular season on the road against the New York Giants.

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Three local TV stations thought they had one of the NFL’s biggest games all to themselves. When the potentially historic Patriots-Giants matchup landed on their competitors too, they accused the league of violating their contracts.

“We are having private and confidential conversations with the NFL and are very hopeful that this unfortunate situation can be worked out to our satisfaction, in light of the fact we do have a valid contract for exclusive broadcast rights to the Patriots versus Giants game in the Boston market,” said Bill Fine, the president and general manager of ABC affiliate WCVB.

WCVB and Manchester, N.H., station WMUR, which are owned by the same company, and New York station WWOR had won bidding processes for the right to simulcast NFL Network games involving local teams.

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Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (strained right hamstring) took part in his first full practice since Nov. 30. . . . The Chicago Bears put cornerback Nathan Vasher (groin injury) on injured reserve, ending his season.