Broncos’ Herndon fined for block on Williams

Denver – Denver Broncos guard Steve Herndon was fined one game’s pay, $17,647, by the NFL on Thursday for an illegal block on San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Jamal Williams.

Herndon’s clip came in Sunday’s loss to the Chargers and ended Williams’ season.

Herndon, a first-year guard, makes $300,000 this season.

Herndon and Broncos coach Mike Shanahan apologized to Williams and the Chargers on Wednesday, the same day Williams was put on injured reserve because of a dislocated left ankle. Williams had surgery Monday.

In the third quarter of San Diego’s 30-27 overtime win, Williams was hit from behind by Herndon as Williams chased Denver running back Clinton Portis on a screen pass.

Shanahan spoke with Herndon this week, “and I asked him what he was thinking when he was going downfield,” the coach said. “Of course you like your linemen to hustle downfield.”

Packers’ Gbaja-Biamila hopes to play Sunday

Green Bay, Wis. – Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila hopes to play Sunday, just one week after the death of his mother in an automobile accident.

The Packers defensive end returned to Green Bay from Los Angeles on Thursday but skipped another day of practice.

He told teammates, however, that he was at peace and looking forward to playing against Minnesota on Sunday.

“Kabeer is a strong, strong man,” defensive end Vonnie Holliday said. “He seems to be handling it well, as well as you can handle something like that. I can’t imagine. He’s certainly had to deal with a lot over the last 72 hours, but he seems to be holding up pretty good.”

Bola Tito Anjorin Gbaja-Biamila, 53, was killed Sunday night in Los Angeles in a single-vehicle accident when her car went out of control and struck a palm tree, then caught fire.

She died on the same day the player’s wife had the couple’s first child, a boy.