Mangini, Billick speak, settle dispute

Coaches clear air over 'illegal' ploy

New York Jets coach Eric Mangini cleared the air with Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick after he accused Mangini of using an "illegal" ploy to draw his team offside during Sunday's game.

"I talked to Brian [Tuesday] and we had a good conversation," Mangini said Wednesday. "It was important for me to talk to him and make sure we didn't have a misunderstanding. We don't coach things to cause penalties. We don't believe in getting penalties, and it's something that we work to minimize at all times."

Billick said Monday that the Jets' defense "did a very, very effective job of illegally simulating the snap count" to intentionally throw off the Baltimore offense during the Ravens' 20-13 win. He claimed the tactic led to three illegal procedure penalties against the Ravens, but said his criticism was leveled at the officials, not the Jets.

"I was being critical of the officiating," Billick said. "It had nothing to do with Eric Mangini. I was more upset that they were doing it better than we were. We all do it. The official usually gets on it right away and stops it. That's all I was saying.

"It's not fair to Eric. Eric didn't deserve the grief he got for that. That was not my intention."

T.O. FINED FOR CELEBRATION: The Dallas Cowboys' Terrell Owens said he was fined "a good chunk of money" -- which he later defined as thousands of dollars -- for a celebration that included him using the goal post and football to poke fun at the New England Patriots' spying scandal during Dallas' 37-20 victory over Miami on Sunday.

A league spokesman said the fine was $7,500.

INJURY NEWS: The Jacksonville Jaguars placed safety Gerald Sensabaugh on injured reserve. Sensabaugh injured his shoulder in Sunday's 13-7 victory over Atlanta. The third-year player from UNC had started both games this season, getting eight tackles and a fumble recovery.

* Washington Redskins right guard Randy Thomas had surgery Wednesday on his torn left triceps. Thomas will wear a splint for six weeks and could possibly play again in 10 to 12 weeks.

* Indianapolis Colts linebacker Rob Morris (abdominal strain) did not practice on Wednesday, and coach Tony Dungy said he wasn't sure Morris would play Sunday at Houston. Tight end Dallas Clark and right tackle Ryan Diem also missed practice because of neck injuries.

* Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson said he won't play against Indianapolis this week as he recovers from a sprained knee.

* Minnesota Vikings starting safeties Darren Sharper (hip) and Dwight Smith (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday and might not be able to play Sunday against Kansas City.

BRIEFLY: J.R. Reed is back with the Philadelphia Eagles for his defense more than his return skills. Released after his muffed punt led to a loss at Green Bay in the season-opener, Reed re-signed with the Eagles to provide depth in a banged-up secondary.

* Mark Ingram, a receiver on the New York Giants team that won the 1991 Super Bowl, was ordered to stand trial in Michigan on charges he broke into a garage and stole a woman's purse.

* The Cincinnati Bengals signed free-agent linebacker Dhani Jones to a one-year contract.