Dobbins said he will appeal. "It was a lot of zeroes in that picture," he said. "My assessment is [the fine] is way too high and I feel like I didn't do anything wrong. I'm not a dirty player."
The call was iffy, Dobbins said: "I didn't know if he was going to run the ball or if he was going to pass."
Coach Lovie Smith said Cutler was "feeling a whole lot better" Wednesday, but was not sure whether his starter would be ready to face San Francisco on Monday night.
Big Ben's worrisome rib
Ben Roethlisberger's sprained right shoulder is just the start of his problems. The Steelers quarterback said Wednesday he also dislocated a rib while getting sacked Monday night vs. Kansas City.
Roethlisberger said doctors are concerned the rib could cut into his aorta. If the rib gets jostled before it heals, it can cause internal bleeding, he added.
Roethlisberger has already been ruled out of Sunday's game against Baltimore; Byron Leftwich will make the start.
Roethlisberger said he doesn't believe the injuries will end his season.
"I don't think so, I don't know though, but I'm not a medical expert," Roethlisberger said. "I just know I'm going to do what I can to get back."
The bosses kick back
The Bears' Robbie Gould learned a valuable lesson Wednesday about the wisdom of mouthing off about the job, especially when you're a placekicker who can easily be replaced.
In an interview with WMVP-AM in Chicago, Gould ripped the surface at Soldier Field, saying he might have to think about re-signing with Chicago when his contract expires after next season.
"I don't know what's happening. This year, our field has been really bad. It's been tore up," he whined.
He said he hopes to remain with the Bears but wasn't sure he wants "to deal with that as I get older as a kicker."
Pretty big talk. Fortunately for him, he soon saw the light. A few hours later, the Bears issued a statement in which Gould took it all back.
"I need to apologize to the grounds crew at Soldier Field and our grounds crew for my recent comments regarding the field," he said. "I have since learned a lot more about the NFL's policies and the measures that are taken at Soldier Field to ensure a reliable and safe playing surface. It was my mistake to speak prior to having a full understanding."
Talk about humble pie.
Vikings like Ponder
Christian Ponder's up-and-down performance in his first full season as the 6-4 Vikings' starting quarterback has drawn plenty of criticism from fans, but it hasn't shaken the organization's confidence in him.
"I know everybody in this organization believes Christian Ponder is our guy," Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said Wednesday. "And I have full, 100 percent belief that Christian Ponder's going to be our quarterback heading into the future."
Ponder, a 2011 first-round draft choice who at times has looked like a star and at times has played like an overwhelmed youngster with happy feet, should ponder that. Call us cynical, but the bosses usually say stuff like that just before they can you.
This article contains information from Inquirer wire services.
