Shell says staff was undermined

The Oakland Raiders’ soap opera season took another strange turn Wednesday when Coach Art Shell accused a member of the organization of trying to undermine the coaching staff and rooting against the team.

Shell did not name the person, but said it was not a coach or a player. He said the person has been calling media members around the country and criticizing coaches.

“I’m a fighter,� Shell said. “I sit back and I watch things happen and then it gets to the point where you cross the line. That line has been crossed and I won’t sit back and allow it to happen anymore.�

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Quarterback Michael Vick was fined $10,000 by the NFL and agreed to donate another $10,000 to charity for an obscene hand gesture toward Atlanta Falcons fans after Sunday’s home loss.

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Terrell Owens isn’t just sorry to see his pal Mike Vanderjagt go. He thinks the Dallas Cowboys made a mistake by releasing the wayward kicker, saying, “I don’t see what he did wrong to warrant him being cut.�

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Banned from track for doping, sprinter Justin Gatlin worked out for the Houston Texans, but Coach Gary Kubiak said signing him was “not something we would do right now.�

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has a bruised hand, perhaps even a broken finger, but Coach Mike Holmgren said that he was “fine,� and would start Sunday at Denver.