RAVENS' LINEBACKER WILL APPEAL FINE, BUT WON'T SLOW DOWN

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The NFL fined Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis $25,000 yesterday for two separate plays, including a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco.

The Ravens said Lewis will appeal the fine.

Both plays occurred in the fourth quarter of Baltimore's 17-14 loss on Sunday. The league deemed that Lewis "unnecessarily kicked the opponent" and later "unnecessarily struck a defenseless receiver."

During the latter play, Lewis hit Ochocinco after a pass from Carson Palmer sailed incomplete, and the 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness helped set up the winning touchdown with 22 seconds remaining.

Ochocinco lost his helmet during the collision, but immediately popped up from the turf. After the game, the boisterous receiver used his Twitter account to ask NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for leniency.

"Please don't fine Ray Lewis Mr. Roger Goodell, it was a clean hit, it's part of the game, save the fines for me," Ochocinco wrote.

Asked Wednesday if he expected to be fined, Lewis replied, "Probably."

But the standout middle linebacker said that's just how he plays the game.

"If I had to change anything, I would do it the same way I've done it," Lewis said. "I will never slow down my speed, the way I play this game. I've never played this game to hurt anybody.

"But the bottom line is, when I turn to go, I'm like a missile. When I'm locked in, I'm locked in. Whatever's there is there. Worrying about fines and all that, I'll let that take care of itself. The NFL does a great job with that. You call them and discuss it with them."

Yesterday, Lewis said, "I'm not talking about no fine."

Coach John Harbaugh said, "I'm disappointed. You hate to see that."

RAMS

OL SMITH WILL PLAY

Jason Smith is healthy again, but the No. 2 overall pick in the April draft won't start tomorrow when the winless St. Louis Rams play at Jacksonville.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo said yesterday that Adam Goldberg will start at right tackle, though Smith will see some playing time against the Jaguars (2-3).

The Rams (0-5) will try to snap a 15-game losing streak, the longest in the NFL.

Smith sprained his left knee in the second quarter of a 9-7 loss at Washington on Sept. 20 and missed the next two games. He suited up for last week's 38-10 loss to Minnesota but was on the field for just two plays.

Goldberg is a seven-year veteran known for his versatility — he started six games at four positions last season.

LIONS

STAFFORD STILL IFFY

Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford is listed as questionable for tomorrow's game at Green Bay.

Stafford has missed four of five practices this week, including yesterday's, with a right knee injury suffered Oct. 8 at Chicago. But coach Jim Schwartz says he won't decide until tomorrow morning whether the No. 1 overall draft pick will play against the Packers.

Wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Detroit's leading receiver, also did not practice yesterday and is questionable. His right knee was injured in Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh.

ELSEWHERE

Jets: New York wide receivers Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith are doubtful to play against Buffalo after missing a third straight day of practice yesterday because of injuries.

Cotchery injured his left hamstring in practice Oct. 8 and sat out two days before making one catch for 4 yards Monday night at Miami. Smith injured a quadriceps muscle in the loss.

Saints: New Orleans placed first-year receiver Rod Harper on injured reserve with a stress fracture in his left foot.

The move made room on the roster to bring back rookie quarterback Chase Daniel, the former Missouri standout who New Orleans waived on Monday.

Steelers: Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall is expected to start against the Cleveland Browns tomorrow after returning to practice following a day off with flu-like symptoms.

Steelers safety Troy Polamalu also will start tomorrow. He practiced all week after missing four games with a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Vikings: Minnesota rookie receiver and return man Percy Harvin is listed as questionable for tomorrow's game against Baltimore with an injured left shoulder.

Harvin says it will be a gametime decision. He missed practice on Wednesday and worked out on a limited basis on Thursday and yesterday. He is averaging 31.2 yards per kick return and has scored three touchdowns in his first five games.

Obituary: Cullen Bryant, who spent 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, was a running back on their 1980 Super Bowl team and fought the NFL's trading rules to remain in town, has died. He was 58.

Unknown to his family, Bryant had been under a doctor's care when he died Tuesday at his home in Colorado Springs, Colo., said his sister-in-law, Wanda E. Bryant. She did not supply other details.