Union president Gene Upshaw, who received a copy of the letter, had said he wouldn't be surprised if the NFL declined to rescind the language. He was also pessimistic about the chances of having the fine reduced, based on some of the inflammatory comments Lynch made about the hit.
"Some of the clips that came out with John saying, 'We were sending a message about next week' and 'I'd do it again' - that didn't help me on my appeal, I can tell you that," Upshaw said.
Lynch declined to comment yesterday, saying: "It's time to concentrate on football."
Patriots. New England placed Ty Law on injured reserve and said the four-time Pro Bowl cornerback would miss the postseason. The 10-year veteran missed the last nine games of the regular season after breaking his left foot in an Oct. 31 game at Pittsburgh.
Law, 30, initially was expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks because of a broken bone across the top of his foot. He had a cast removed from his foot in late November, and he later wore a removable boot to take pressure off it.
Honors. Ed Reed wasn't just the best defensive player on the Baltimore Ravens - no small feat, with Ray Lewis as a teammate - he was also the best defender in the NFL this season.
The Ravens safety outplayed even his illustrious buddy and training partner in winning the Associated Press' defensive player-of-the-year award.
Reed got 20 votes from a national panel of writers and broadcasters that covers pro football, beating Steelers linebacker James Farrior, who had 16.
He is the first safety to win the award since Kenny Easley did it with Seattle in 1984.
Redskins. Joe Gibbs has begun the off-season overhaul of Washington's offense, hiring West Coast offense veteran Bill Musgrave as quarterbacks coach.
Jets. Defensive end John Abraham and receiver Wayne Chrebet were downgraded to questionable, the day before their wild-card game against San Diego.
