Porter’s remarks draw $15,000 fine

Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter was fined $15,000 for remarks made to a member of referee Tony Corrente’s officiating crew during the Steelers’ 20-13 loss at Oakland on Oct. 29.

Porter was fined for unsportmanslike conduct on the play, two plays after linebacker Larry Foote drew the same penalty. The two penalties led to a field goal by Oakland during the Raiders’ upset victory, one of six Steelers losses in eight games.

Porter, a three-time Pro Bowl linebacker and one of the NFL’s most vocal players, returned for that game after sitting out two games because of a hamstring injury.

Porter has had run-ins with game officials before. He once was ejected for fighting before a game in Cleveland, and accused officials of intentionally favoring the Colts during the Steelers’ 21-18 playoff victory in Indianapolis last season.

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Kansas City Coach Herman Edwards has been saying for weeks that Trent Green would replace Damon Huard as the team’s starting quarterback when he’s healthy. But the Chiefs coach has appeared to soften that stance.

“The one thing you can never count out is chemistry on your football team, and that is very important,” Edwards said. “At this point, I don’t have to make that decision. It will be a decision I’ll make.”

Green could be back Nov. 19 against Oakland, but Huard’s excellent play -- 11 touchdown passes and only one interception in seven starts -- has fans split over who they want as the starter.

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Buffalo Bills receiver Josh Reed was released from the hospital, two days after suffering a bruised kidney.

The Bills didn’t update Reed’s condition or say whether he’ll play Sunday in Buffalo’s game at Indianapolis. Coach Dick Jauron was scheduled to update Reed’s status today, when the team returns to practice.

Reed was hurt in the second quarter of Buffalo’s 24-10 victory over Green Bay when he was tackled after making a six-yard catch. Reed returned to the field later in the quarter but was diagnosed with a bruised kidney during halftime.

He was taken to a hospital during the game and spent a second night under observation as a precaution.

Starting running back Willis McGahee was also injured in the game when he broke a rib early in the first quarter. McGahee’s status is also uncertain for this weekend, although Jauron has yet to rule him out.

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The Green Bay Packers and center Scott Wells agreed to a five-year, $15-million contract extension, a source told the Associated Press.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced, said Wells’ new contract includes $5 million in bonuses.

The deal will take effect after this season. Wells’ current contract, a three-year deal he signed as a rookie that included a signing bonus of $22,250, expires at the end of the year.

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The Denver Broncos put safety Sam Brandon on injured reserve. Brandon tore a ligament in his right knee Sunday at Pittsburgh while tackling running back Najeh Davenport.