The NFL has fined Titans owner Bud Adams $250,000 for making an obscene gesture at Buffalo fans while celebrating Tennessee's victory over the Bills.

Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Adams of the fine yesterday, and league spokesman Greg Aiello said it is for conduct detrimental to the NFL. Adams was seen making the gesture while in his luxury suite and again on the field after Sunday's 41-17 victory.

The 86-year-old Adams issued an apology a couple of hours later, saying he got caught up in the excitement of the moment.

Goodell was at the game, after having breakfast with Adams.

"I do realize that those types of things shouldn't happen," Adams said in the statement. "I need to specifically apologize to the Bills, their fans, our fans and the NFL."

The NFL fined former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo $1 million after he pleaded guilty to a felony and suspended him for the 1999 season.

Since then, the biggest fine handed down by the NFL to an individual was $500,000 to New England coach Bill Belichick for the Spygate scandal.

JOHNSON SITUATION

BENGALS WILL TALK WITH TROUBLED RUNNING BACK

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said yesterday that Larry Johnson would be in Cincinnati to discuss a limited role — fourth-string running back, essentially an insurance policy in case Cedric Benson's hip injury gets worse or another running back gets hurt.

"That's what his role would be, it would be as a fourth running back and an opportunity as a backup player on this football team doing all the things backup players do, and that's work their tails off in the kicking game and showing looks (on the scout team) and so forth that way," Lewis said.

Johnson turns 30 on Thursday and is coming off several years of decline. He also created controversies while with the Kansas City Chiefs, who released him last week on the day he was due back from his second suspension in the past 12 months.

GAMBLE BY BELICHICK

PATRIOTS COACH DEFENDS DECISION TO GO FOR IT

Bill Belichick defended his decision to go for it on fourth down as criticism mounted yesterday of the call that led to the New England Patriots' stunning loss.

On Sunday against Indianapolis, Belichick decided not to punt on fourth-and-2 from the Patriots' 28, and New England holding a six-point lead with just over two minutes remaining. Tom Brady completed a 1-yard pass to Kevin Faulk, and the Colts took over.

Four plays later, Peyton Manning threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with 13 seconds left. Matt Stover's extra point was the winning margin in a 35-34 Colts victory.

"The same thing I said after the game," Belichick said at his regular Monday news conference. "I thought it was our best chance to win. I thought we needed to make that one play and then we could basically run out the clock. We weren't able to make it."

ELSEWHERE

Dolphins: Ronnie Brown, Miami's leading rusher, remained on crutches 24 hours after hurting his right foot during a 25-23 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. He's unlikely to play Thursday at Carolina and could be sidelined much longer.

Rams: St. Louis has lost leading wide receiver Keenan Burton for the rest of the season, the result of a right knee injury in Sunday's loss to New Orleans. The Rams placed Burton on injured reserve with a torn patella tendon.

Cowboys: Dallas will be without safety Ken Hamlin at least three weeks with a sprained ankle and the Cowboys are hoping offensive tackle Marc Columbo will return late in the season from a broken leg.

Seahawks: Seattle running back Julius Jones is likely to miss at least Sunday's game at Minnesota because of a bruised lung.