Redskins' McNabb won't play against Jets

A sprained ankle will keep Donovan McNabb on the sideline Friday night when the Jets play the Washington Redskins. McNabb has been unable to practice since getting hurt in Saturday night's preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

"It's quite sore," coach Mike Shanahan said, "and I don't think he could go if it was a regular-season game. He's got to rehab it." McNabb was limping badly in the locker room after the game and was wearing a walking boot Monday. Tuesday, he watched practice with a wrap around his lower left leg and ankle.

Hip surgery for Rice

Pro Bowl receiver Sidney Rice could miss the first half of the Vikings' season - or more - after having hip surgery. Coach Brad Childress said it was hard to give a specific timetable for Rice's return, but he said typically it takes about eight weeks before a player can get back to football. It's a huge blow for the Vikings, who have very little depth at receiver.

Ochocinco fined for tweet

The NFL has fined wide receiver Chad Ochocinco $25,000 for the timing of his tweets. The league said that Ochocinco's messages appeared on his Twitter page during a prohibited time at the Cincinnati Bengals versus Philadelphia Eagles preseason game Friday night. It said the Bengal player violated policies on electronic device possession and posting of social media messages.

Cowher sees Ben maturing

Former Steelers coach Bill Cowher says it was hard to get through to Ben Roethlisberger after the quarterback had so much success early in his career. Yet Cowher believes the sexual assault investigation that led to a six-game suspension for Roethlisberger was a "slap in the face" that has led to some much-needed maturity. In an interview with The Associated Press, Cowher described how Roethlisberger used to respond to advice about his off-field behavior. "'But we're winning games. We're winning championships,"' Cowher recounted.

Bills' Gailey scolds fans

At the end of practice, Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey marched over to a group of teenagers in the stands and told them what he thought about their heckling.

"If you dog one of us, you dog all of us," Gailey said in a stern voice, loud enough to be heard 20 yards away.

Gailey had another message for them, too: He said he'd instructed his players to skip that section of the stands for signing autographs.

- AP