Urlacher fined $100,000 for Super Bowl hat

By: Associated Press - | Wednesday, April 18, 2007 11:47 PM PDT ∞

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was fined $100,000 by the NFL for wearing a cap during Super Bowl media day that promoted a sponsor not authorized by the league.

NFL rules prohibit gear that advertises any product but a designated sponsor, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said Wednesday.

Urlacher was fined for drinking vitaminwater and wearing a vitaminwater hat during the media session in Miami leading to the title game. Gatorade is the NFL's official drink.

McCarthy said this is the first time such a fine has been levied. He added that $100,000 is the standard fine for such a violation at the Super Bowl. A violation during the regular season is $10,000. It is $50,000 at the Pro Bowl.

Bush on the mend

Michael Bush is up and running, his broken right leg nearly fully healed just in time for the NFL draft.

The former Louisville running back this week took part in his first full workout since he was hurt in September, and also received a thumbs-up prognosis from James Andrews, an Alabama-based orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports injuries.

"I reviewed an X-ray today and it looks like it is 99 percent healed," Andrews wrote in a letter dated Wednesday and obtained by The Associated Press. "I would estimate that Michael Bush will pick up in the NFL where he left off in college, and should be a top-ranked running back taken in the 2007 NFL Draft."

The letter was released by Bush's agent, Todd France, who said he is forwarding Andrews' letter, Bush's most recent X-rays and a DVD from his client's workout to all 32 NFL teams. The workout was held at Louisville on Monday and filmed by school officials, France said.

The agent hopes the updated information will clear up any doubts about Bush's status going into the draft on April 28-29.

"It's great news," said France. "It's huge. My thing was I wanted to take away any negative perceptions in people's minds where his health status is because he couldn't work out at the combine. Well, guess what, look at him now."

Et cetera

Patriots: New England and veteran CB Tory James have agreed to a one-year deal. The 33-year-old will compete for playing time in a deep Patriots secondary, his agent Mark Bartelstein said. .. P Todd Sauerbrun won his grievance against the team and is now a free agent. The 13-year veteran is expected to join the Denver Broncos. He agreed to a one-year deal with them earlier this month, but the Patriots matched it through an illegal clause in his contract with New England.

Colts: LB and special teamer Rocky Boiman re-signed with Indianapolis. Boiman was an unrestricted free agent after spending last season as key special teams player for the Super Bowl champions. He was primarily a backup on defense and could earn more playing time this season since free agent Cato June, a former Pro Bowl linebacker, signed with Tampa Bay.

Dolphins: Decided not to match the offer sheet P Donnie Jones signed with the St. Louis Rams last week, instead choosing to accept another draft pick as compensation.

Lions: Signed CBsTony Beckham and Ike Charlton and WR Kevin Kasper to one-year contracts and released WR Craphonso Thorpe. Beckham skipped the 2006 NFL season after playing for Tennessee in 2002-05. Charlton spent two seasons with Winnipeg of the CFL after playing in the NFL for Seattle, Jacksonville and New York Giants.