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NFL briefs

By Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 29, 2000

Owens' taunting inspires new rule

LOS ANGELES -- Reacting to San Francisco receiver Terrell Owens' antics Sunday in Dallas, the NFL has broadened its rules on taunting, FOXSports.com reported Thursday.

Jerry Seeman, the league's senior director of officiating, told FOXSports.com that any pose an individual strikes -- regardless of whether it's directed at the opposing player or bench -- will be considered taunting and result in a 15-yard penalty and fine.

"What we have advised is, effective immediately, if the officials detect a pose, it will be called taunting," Seeman said. "This is independent of which way the pose is directed."

After both of Owens' touchdowns in the 49ers' 41-24 victory at Texas Stadium, the receiver sprinted to midfield and celebrated on the Cowboys' star logo. His second trip to midfield sparked the ire of safety George Teague, who leveled Owens.

Monday, coach Steve Mariucci suspended Owens for a game and fined him a week's salary.

BEARS: Left tackle Blake Brockermeyer lost 7 to 8 pounds while hospitalized for an infection last weekend. He's questionable for Sunday's game, although coach Dick Jauron doubts Brockermeyer will have the strength to play an entire game. Linebacker Rosevelt Colvin (sprained knee) also is questionable.

BENGALS: New coach Dick LeBeau, a defensive specialist all his career, has made offensive coordinator Ken Anderson the play-caller. The Bengals have been outscored 74-7 in three games. They're averaging 2.3, which is well below the worst scoring average since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 -- 7.4 by the 1977 Bucs.

BRONCOS: Quarterback Brian Griese (shoulder) and running back Terrell Davis (ankle, foot) practiced for the second straight day and neither showed lingering effects from their injuries. Barring setbacks, both are expected to reclaim their starting jobs when the Patriots visit Sunday. ... Kicker Jason Elam (back) looks to be about a week away. Wide receiver Robert Brooks (hamstring) will not play this weekend.

49ERS: Mariucci was upset with televised images of wide receiver Jerry Rice bellowing at him Sunday. "I guess I would prefer that it wouldn't end up on television like it did, because they don't show the whole story," Mariucci said, adding that Rice apologized after his outburst and then hugged his coach.

GIANTS: Kicker Brad Daluiso (sore back) missed practice but expects to play Sunday against the Titans. Daluiso, who missed most of last season after reconstructive surgery on his left knee, said his back tightened before working on kickoffs and field goals on Wednesday. He was sore later in the evening, and trainers told him to rest on Thursday. "I'm kicking," Daluiso said of his status for Sunday. "My back is fine."

JAGUARS: Mark Brunell (calf) returned to practice and took most of the snaps after missing workouts Wednesday. "It will probably be a little sore, but I should be able to go on Sunday," he said. Brunell was sacked five times, was forced to scramble on six other occasions and was tackled in the end zone for a safety in the third quarter.

PANTHERS: Defensive end Chuck Smith will be out four weeks to rest his sore right knee. Smith, 30, missed Carolina's win over the 49ers on Sept. 10 and has two tackles in two starts.

TITANS: Tight end Frank Wycheck, knocked out of last weekend's game against Pittsburgh by a concussion, expects to play Sunday against the Giants.

XFL

NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY: The Hitmen will name longtime NFL assistant Rusty Tillman as their first coach, the Star-Ledger of Newark reported. The XFL's inaugural season begins in February. Tillman was a Bucs assistant in 1995.

SAN FRANCISCO: Jim Skipper, an assistant coach with the Giants until he quit in August, was named coach of the Demons.

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