Incognito, who was suspended indefinitely on Nov. 3 for using a racial slur and threatening violence toward teammate Jonathan Martin, has reached an agreement with the Dolphins to extend his suspension but with pay while the NFL continues its investigation of the incident, NFL.com reported, citing league sources and a source close to Incognito.

Under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the Dolphins could not suspend Incognito more than four games, with the initial suspension set to expire after Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. The new agreement, which was approved by the NFL and NFL Players Association, resolves any conflict since Incognito will be paid, NFL.com reported. 

According to NFL.com, Incognito has lost $235,294 for each game he has been suspended.

Incognito met with independent arbitrator Ted Wells last week and was scheduled to have a grievance hearing with the Dolphins last week over his suspension.


TOMLIN COULD FACE DISCIPLINE


Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stirred up considerable controversy Thursday when he stepped onto the field during a kickoff return by Baltimore’s Jacoby Jones, possibly ruining a Ravens touchdown.

Now the NFL apparently plans to take action.

According to ESPN and other sites, the play will be reviewed and Tomlin could face disciplinary action. The NFL official involved in the play also might be downgraded, an NFL official told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

After the Steelers scored to cut the Ravens’ lead to 13-7, Jones took the ensuing kickoff and was racing down the sideline when Tomlin stepped on the white sideline stripe near the field. With Tomlin on the field at one point, Jones slowed up, allowing Pittsburgh’s Cortez Allen to run him down and tackle him.

Tomlin was not penalized for the play and said he did not think he interfered with Jones.

"I always watch the returns on the JumboTron. It provides better perspective for me," Tomlin said. "I lost my placement as he broke free and saw at the last second how close I was to the field of play.”

Tomlin later admitted he was wrong and accepted responsibility for the play.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco was among the Baltimore players who criticized Tomlin for the move.


SITTON: LIONS STILL ‘SCUMBAGS’


Despite taking a beating Thursday, Green Bay Packers guard Josh Sitton is not backing off his comments calling the Detroit Lions defensive front “a bunch of dirtbags, or scumbags.”

Prior to their Thanksgiving showdown, Sitton called the Lions defense a dirty and undisciplined team in an interview Tuesday with Milwaukee radio station WSSP.

"I don't think there's any question about that," Sitton said, per the Detroit Free Press. "They go after quarterbacks. Their entire defense takes cheap shots all the time, that's what they do, that's who they are. They're a bunch of dirtbags, or scumbags. I mean, that's how they play."

According to NFL.com, Sitton was not taking back his comments, despite the Lions’ 40-10 drubbing of the Packers on Thursday. Sitton, whose offense managed just 126 yards against the Lions defense, called his team’s performance “embarrassing,” but refused to take back his comments.

"I said what I said. I'm not taking it back,’ Sitton told NFL.com.

The Lions had seven sacks against Packers QB Matt Flynn, including a safety on a sack by Ndamukong Suh.

Sitton did give the Lions D a little credit for their performance.

"They play good. They play good up front," Sitton told NFL.com. "No one ever said they're not a good front. We know that. I think they're probably the best inside front in the league. But like I said, I don't take anything I said back."


ELLINGTON HURT IN PRACTICE


Arizona coach Bruce Arians says the availability of running back Andre Ellington on Sunday at Philadelphia will be "a game-time decision."

Ellington injured his left knee late in practice on Thursday and sat out Friday's workout.

The loss of the dynamic rookie from Clemson would be a significant blow to the Arizona offense, because he provides speed the team's other backs don't possess.

Although he didn't carry the ball at all in the season opener, Ellington leads the Cardinals in rushing with 441 yards on only 73 carries, an average of 6 yards per carry. He also has 28 receptions for 247 yards.

Ellington said an MRI "showed some stuff," but he wouldn't say what.

"We'll see how it goes," he said on Friday. "We've got two days before the game. That's a lot of rest, two days. I'm going to continue to rehab and go out there on Sunday and run around a little bit."

If Ellington can't play, the Cardinals still would have starter Rashard Mendenhall, rookie Stepfan Taylor, and Alfonso Smith at running back.


PANTHERS MAY BE WITHOUT WILLIAMS, JOHNSON


The Carolina Panthers, who are surging with seven straight wins, may be without two of its biggest stars for Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay.

Defensive end Charles Johnson, who leads the Panthers with 8.5 sacks, will miss his second straight game with a right knee sprain. And the Panthers may be without leading rusher DeAngelo Williams, who has missed practice all week with a quad contusion, ESPN reported Friday.

"A lot of concerns with DeAngelo,'' coach Ron Rivera told ESPN after Friday's practice.

Williams suffered the injury in last week’s game against Miami. His status for Sunday should be known by Saturday. If Williams is out, Mike Tolbert and Jonathan Stewart likely will get the majority of carries for the Panthers (8-3).

Johnson was injured in the Nov. 18 win over New England and missed last week’s game against Miami. He is expected to return for the Dec. 8 Sunday night game against divisional rival New Orleans.


GAY FINED, THOMAS CALLS FOR REPLAY ON HELMET HIT


Browns Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas favors an instant-replay system in which hits to the helmet are reviewed by officials.

In last week's loss to Pittsburgh, Browns quarterback Jason Campbell sustained a concussion in the third quarter after he was knocked down by Pittsburgh cornerback William Gay, who struck the QB with a glancing blow to the face mask. Campbell crumpled to the turf and banged his head on the hard ground.

Not only was Gay not penalized, he caused a fumble that was returned 49 yards, setting up a touchdown that gave Pittsburgh a 20-3 lead.

The NFL fined Gay $15,750 on Friday for unnecessary roughness on the play. A league spokesman said Gay "unnecessarily delivered a forcible blow to his opponent's head and neck area."

Thomas said replay officials in the press box should be able to review those plays and give them "the same kind of scrutiny that a scoring play or a turnover play has."

Campbell is following the NFL's protocol on head injuries and not playing Sunday.

Contributors: Sporting News staff, The Associated Press

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