Steelers’ Hines Ward has choice words for NFL

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward lashed out Wednesday at the NFL for what he calls its hypocritical stance on player safety, arguing the league recently toughened its stance only because it wants to expand to an 18-game season.

Ward said there is considerable confusion among players about which hits are legal and which aren’t since the league stepped up its policing of dangerous hits. Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been fined $125,000 for four hits since mid-October, two of which weren’t penalized.

“They league doesn’t care about us anyway,” said Ward, a 13-year veteran and the leading receiver in Steelers history. “They don’t care about the safety of the game. If the league was so concerned about the safety, why are you adding two more games on? You talk about you don’t want players to drink … and all you see is beer commercials. You don’t want us to gamble, but then there are [NFL-endorsed lottery scratch-off games].”

The NFL is pushing for an expanded season during ongoing labor negotiations with the players union.

“It almost seems like the more flags we throw, the more fines we dish out, we can say we’re protecting the game,” Steelers safety Ryan Clark said, reflecting his opinion of the league’s stance. “Now, we can have 18 games because look how we’re protecting [the players].”

Ward also predicted a team will lose a game — possibly in the playoffs — because an official makes an incorrect call out of fear of being disciplined by the league for not adhering to its new policy.

“It’s going to change the outcome; somebody’s going to lose a game because of it,” Ward said. “It’s going to be a huge play in a playoff game, somebody’s going to hit a quarterback or do something and the referee is going to be too scared to call it. So he’s going to call it anyway so he can save his tail. He [the player] may not even get fined or not, but it will come down to the outcome of a ballgame.”

Steelers linebacker James Farrior said NFL Players Assn. chief DeMaurice Smith hasn’t properly supported players on the issue.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs took the unusual stance of agreeing with the rival Steelers during a conference call with Pittsburgh reporters.

“The league has their favorites,” Suggs said. “One being in Indy [ Peyton Manning] and one being with that team up north [New England’s Tom Brady]. Besides those two, everybody is fair game. Like I always said, Carson Palmer got his knee hurt in 2005, but there was no rule made. Then Tom Brady got hit in the knee and all of a sudden there is a rule and possible suspensions, excessive fines. It’s just getting ridiculous.”

Anderson apologizes for rant

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Derek Anderson has apologized for his Monday night postgame tirade.

“My mom and dad didn’t raise me to act like that in times of adversity,” he said.

The quarterback’s rant came after a series of questions from a reporter about why Anderson was smiling with teammate Deuce Lutui on the sidelines while the Cardinals were trailing by 18 points late in the game. The brief clip of the two grinning had been shown during the Monday night telecast.

Anderson said after the game that it was no one’s business what he and Lutui were talking about. As the reporter persisted, Anderson lost his temper and shouted about how he had put his “freaking heart and soul” into the team and that there was nothing funny about it.

He was low-key and contrite as he opened his weekly news conference Wednesday.

“Let’s try to do this in a manner that doesn’t end up all over the YouTube, if we can,” he said. “ … Obviously, I was very frustrated by what had happened during the game, and I let my emotions get away from me.”

The blowup came after the Cardinals lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 27-6, their seventh consecutive defeat.

“I’ve been through some rough times in football,” Anderson said, “but I think it obviously was one of the most frustrating times for me, a game that I felt like going in that we were very prepared for. I had a very good week of practice, like I said, and to lay an egg on national television was not only frustrating for me, but frustrating to every one of the guys that’s out here every single day and sees what we’re capable of doing.”

Favre has no idea of investigation’s status

The investigation into allegations that Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre sent a game-day hostess inappropriate text messages and photos while both worked for the New York Jets in 2008 has dragged on for two months.

An NFL spokesman said that the investigation is continuing and Favre said he has not been summoned by the league for another meeting and has no idea when it will reach a conclusion.

“To be honest with you, I haven’t even thought about it,” Favre said. “My focus is on this team, which is tough enough as it is. I’m not concerned about that [investigation].”

Roethlisberger is expected to play

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sat out only a few snaps in practice despite a sprained right foot that requires him to wear a protective boot away from the field.

Roethlisberger did not take part in only about a dozen snaps after being fitted by trainer John Norwig with a reinforced shoe that stabilizes the foot yet allows enough movement to play. The quarterback plans to play during Pittsburgh’s key AFC North game at Baltimore on Sunday. Each team is 8-3.

Peterson is still hobbling

Running back Adrian Peterson and left guard Steve Hutchinson were among five Vikings who did not practice as the team began preparations to face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Peterson had an MRI exam on his right ankle Sunday, and interim Coach Leslie Frazier said it revealed no more damage than a sprain. But it’s still not clear whether the NFL’s third-leading rusher will be ready to go against the Bills.

“It’ll probably be day to day, maybe going all the way up to Sunday as to whether he’ll be playing,” Frazier said. “We’ve got our fingers crossed.”

Campbell to start for Oakland

An MRI exam confirmed that Oakland Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski has a third-degree shoulder separation, but he will avoid surgery and could return this season.

Gradkowski was injured late in the fourth quarter of Oakland’s 33-17 loss to Miami on Sunday, aggravating a shoulder injury he initially suffered against Arizona on Sept. 26. Gradkowski sat out four games after that.

Jason Campbell will replace Gradkowski for Sunday’s game at San Diego.

It’s the latest twist in what has been an ongoing saga for Oakland’s quarterbacks this season. Coach Tom Cable has flip-flopped many times amid reports owner Al Davis has pushed for Campbell to be the full-time starter.

McKinley was in debt before suicide

Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley had a gambling problem and was deep in debt when he committed suicide Sept. 21, friends and family told authorities during a probe into his death.

McKinley committed suicide with a gun he had purchased months before from teammate Jabar Gaffney, who told investigators McKinley wanted the weapon for his own protection, according to an investigative report by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department that was obtained by the Associated Press. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said there was nothing inappropriate about the sale of the gun.

Detectives also determined that McKinley had spoken about suicide with at least three of his friends, including former Broncos backup quarterback Tom Brandstater. Brandstater told investigators he had lent McKinley $65,000 and that McKinley owed $40,000 to Las Vegas casinos.

The 131-page report, which states the investigation has closed, quoted witnesses as saying McKinley was depressed over his second knee surgery in eight months and was worried about how he would care for his toddler son when his football career was over.

Etc.

Indianapolis signed free-agent linebacker Nate Triplett to replace linebacker Cody Glenn, who went on injured reserve Tuesday. … Drew Stanton will start at quarterback for Detroit against Chicago. Detroit is down to its No. 3 quarterback after Matthew Stafford injured his right shoulder and Shaun Hill injured a finger on his throwing hand. Coach Jim Schwartz said Stanton will start and be backed up by Zac Robinson. … Brandon Marshall rejoined Miami’s practice after being sidelined for two weeks because of a right hamstring injury. … Carolina safety Sherrod Martin was fined $40,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on tight end Evan Moore in the Panthers’ loss to Cleveland on Sunday. …Buffalo starting linebacker Reggie Torbor has an injured shoulder that will keep him sidelined indefinitely. …New Orleans signed linebacker Ramon Humber and released third-string quarterback Sean Canfield. … Carolina signed tackle Rob Petitti and released running back Josh Vaughan. … Cleveland rookie quarterback Colt McCoy has not been medically cleared to practice, leaving Jake Delhomme as starter for now.