NFL-National Football League roundup

Sept 13 (The Sports Xchange) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Dashon Goldson and Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews were fined by the NFL on Friday as a result of hits over the weekend. Goldson drew a $30,000 fine for "unnecessarily striking a defenseless player in the head and neck area" during the second quarter of Sunday's 18-17 loss to the New York Jets. Goldson was penalized for committing a personal foul after hitting Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland. Matthews was fined $15,000 for his late hit against San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Matthews was penalized 15 yards for hitting Kaepernick after the quarterback ran out of bounds with about 9:30 left in the first half. - - - Indianapolis Colts running back Vick Ballard was placed on injured reserve, a day after tearing his right ACL during practice. Ballard rushed for a team-high 814 yards as a rookie last season and helped the Colts in their surprising run to the playoffs. Ballard started the season opener against the Oakland Raiders and rushed for 63 yards on 13 carries. - - - Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman missed last week's annual team photo because he overslept and defended coach Greg Schiano against a report claiming that Schiano fixed the voting for team captain to prevent him from being honored. Schiano said the team has moved past the team photo controversy, according to ESPN.com. - - - New York Jets coach Rex Ryan disputed Mark Sanchez's claim that he won the starting quarterback job. Ryan's comment came a day after Sanchez told the NFL Network that there was "no doubt" he won the job before tearing the labrum in his right shoulder. "I never said he won the competition," Ryan said in a conference call. "That's his opinion. It's not about a company line. Apparently, if that's what he said then that's his opinion. Again there is that ongoing competition." Rookie Geno Smith will continue starting for the Jets. - - - Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles said he will be ready to play in Sunday's game against the visiting Dallas Cowboys. Charles left the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third quarter with a bruised quad muscle and his team up 21-2. - - - Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams expects to play on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, according to coach Leslie Frazier. Williams, a six-time Pro Bowler, did not play the season opener against the Detroit Lions due to a hyperextended right knee. - - - New York Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara was cleared to play after sustaining a concussion in the team's season opener. Amukamara practiced for the first time since the concussion Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. He is listed as questionable for this weekend's game against the Denver Broncos but expects to play. - - - Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey is out for Sunday's game against the New York Giants with a left foot injury. Bailey also missed the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. - - - Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski denied telling Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee that he is rooting for the Oakland A's to miss the playoffs so the infield at O.co Coliseum will be sodded over sooner. Janikowski told the San Francisco Chronicle on Thursday that Scobee is lying and that he regularly attends A's games as a fan. The Raiders share the stadium with the A's. Meanwhile, fullback Marcel Reece signed a three-year contract extension with the Raiders. Reece was named to the Pro Bowl in 2012, posting 271 rushing yards (4.6 yards per carry) and 496 receiving yards. (Editing by Gene Cherry)