Cowher, Officials Reprimanded

Bill Cowher counted 11, and Ben Montgomery counted 12. By the NFL’s count, it adds up to $14,335.

Cowher, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coach who angrily reacted to an incorrect too-many-men penalty by stuffing a photo into a referee’s shirt pocket, was fined $7,500 Tuesday by the NFL.

The two officials involved in a miscalculation that cost Pittsburgh three points in a 44-24 loss to Minnesota on Sept. 24 also were penalized. Montgomery, the line judge who incorrectly counted 12 Steelers, and referee Gordon McCarter, who upheld the call, were suspended for a game apiece.

The one-game suspension will cost McCarter $4,009, and Montgomery is out $2,826 in salary.

“Our officiating crews perform at the very highest levels of skill, and basic procedural errors of this type are not acceptable and will not be tolerated,” NFL director of officiating Jerry Seeman said.

McCarter apparently was disciplined for upholding Montgomery’s erroneous count, although back judge Bob Moore and field judge Ken Baker each saw only 11 Steelers.

Blake contract extended

Jeff Blake, who emerged as the Cincinnati Bengals’ starting quarterback last season when David Klingler was injured, signed a contract extension through the 1999 season. Terms of the contract, which also renegotiated this year’s deal, were not disclosed.

Gary bankrupt

Former NFL running back Cleveland Gary filed for personal bankruptcy, listing debts of more than $600,000.

With the move, which came just five weeks after Gary was released by the St. Louis Rams, he avoided being arrested by order of a judge in Fort Pierce (Fla.) for contempt of court in a debt case.

Hampton to miss game

The New York Giants reported good news about Rodney Hampton, their heavy-duty tailback. They confirmed Hampton’s report Monday night that he would not need screws or plates or pins to stabilize his broken right hand, a surgical process that would probably have sidelined him for four to six weeks.

He will probably miss Sunday’s game against Arizona.

Hampton fractured the fourth metacarpal in Sunday’s 20-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Chiefs buckle down

A year ago after five games, the Kansas City Chiefs were 3-2 with a defense ranked No. 23 in the league. This year, with a new system and a new defensive coordinator, they’re 4-1 and No. 10.

Installing the “attack” defense and hiring Gunther Cunningham from the Raiders to coach it may turn out to be the best decision coach Marty Schottenheimer made in getting ready for 1995.

The quickness of defensive end Neil Smith and noseguard Dan Saleaumua seems to be enhanced in the new philosophy.