The NFL Players Association opposes commissioner Roger Goodell's call for players to tell their teams' medical staffs if they think a teammate shows symptoms of a concussion, saying that is not an adequate solution.

"If every player were a medical doctor that could recognize symptoms of concussions, then that would be a great idea," NFLPA assistant executive director George Atallah said in a telephone interview yesterday.

"I hope that that league — instead of asking players to police each other — would consider calling on team medical staffs and independent doctors to police the situation as closely," Atallah said.

During interviews of 160 NFL players conducted by The Associated Press from Nov. 2 to 15, 30 replied they have hidden or played down the effects of a concussion. Half said they've had at least one concussion playing football.

Told of those findings this week, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an e-mail to the AP that Goodell recently spoke to NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith "about the importance of players reporting head injuries no matter how minor they believe they might be. The commissioner said that process needs to include players observing and reporting to the team medical staff when a teammate shows symptoms of a concussion."

Aiello said yesterday the league is considering "a number of steps" related to player health and safety. Former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy has been picked to lead a new NFL advisory forum that will meet with players about various issues, including concussions.

"It's not that player safety is not a priority of ours," Atallah said, "it's that (Goodell's) suggestion is not adequate."

FINES

• Ravens defensive end Dwan Edwards plans to appeal the $5,000 fine he received for a hit delivered to Browns wide receiver Joshua Cribbs on Monday night. Edwards struck Cribbs with a forearm to the facemask on the final play of Baltimore's 16-0 win.

Earlier in the game, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs was hurt on an illegal block by Browns quarterback Brady Quinn, who was fined $10,000 for unnecessary roughness.

• Steelers linebacker James Harrison was fined $5,000 for unnecessary roughness when he struck Bengals tackle Andrew Whitworth late.

• Jaguars defensive back Reggie Nelson was fined $7,500 for roughing Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez with a hit to the head area.

• Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was fined $7,500 for his elbow to the throat of Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

• Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan was fined $10,000 for trying to tackle an opponent by grabbing the facemask and unnecessary roughness for hitting an opponent late. Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck was fined $7,500 for unnecessary roughness for using a horse collar in tackling a running back.

ELSEWHERE

Bills: Buffalo defensive tackle Marcus Stroud (knee) has been ruled out for tomorrow's game against Jacksonville, while linebacker Keith Ellison (quadriceps) was placed on injured reserve, the 12th Bills player to be placed on IR this season.

Giants: New York linebacker Antonio Pierce is out indefinitely after an MRI exam surprisingly revealed a bulging disk in his neck. The Giants said their defensive captain underwent the test yesterday in New York.

Redskins: Washington running back Clinton Portis was at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center yesterday to have his concussion evaluated. Portis was hurt two weeks ago against Atlanta. He did not play last week against Denver and has been ruled out for tomorrow's game at Dallas.

Seahawks: After missing three days of practice, Josh Wilson is unlikely to play tomorrow at Minnesota because of a concussion, leaving Seattle without a starting cornerback against Brett Favre and the high-flying Vikings.