Sapp-Arrington feud prompts NFL warning

Ashburn, Va. — The NFL weighed in on the LaVar Arrington-Warren Sapp spat with a stern warning: If Sapp prances through Washington’s jumping jacks, he’s going to get flagged.

The NFL Thursday told Tampa Bay and the Redskins that no pregame hostilities will be tolerated when the two teams meet Sunday.

“It will result in a 15-yard penalty,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

The penalty would be assessed on the opening kickoff. If a fight breaks out before the game, the participants will be subject to ejection.

The warning comes a day after Arrington called Sapp’s pregame actions disrespectful and threatened to retaliate if Sapp did the same against the Redskins.

“I’m expecting for Warren Sapp to cause me to grab him — because he’s going to try to run through our lineup in pregame,” Arrington said Wednesday. “You never let a man run through your stretching line.”

Pennington throws during practice

Hempstead, N.Y. — Jets quarterback Chad Pennington threw during seven-on-seven drills at practice Thursday.

Pennington, who throws right-handed, dislocated and broke his left wrist in the preseason and is not expected back for several weeks. But this was the first time he threw during practice since the injury, tossing 12 passes and completing eight of them.

He also stayed about 30 minutes afterward, working on footwork, throwing and conditioning, just as he did Wednesday. Coach Herman Edwards said Pennington might start practicing during team drills next week.

“It was good to see him in the huddle and throwing the football,” Edwards said. “He’s getting closer to being healed.”

Rams safety Sehorn ruled out of next game

St. Louis — It’ll definitely be another week before Jason Sehorn makes his debut with the St. Louis Rams.

The free safety was ruled out by coach Mike Martz Thursday due to soreness in the left foot he broke in late July. Martz is hopeful Sehorn, who has missed 10 weeks, can play next week.

Martz said Sehorn probably did too much Monday when the Rams returned from their bye week. He was evaluated Thursday afternoon, arriving late to practice.

“He’s still probably a little ways away, a week or so away,” Martz said. “How much this is a setback, who knows? It might be just next week.”

The oft-injured Sehorn signed a $1 million, one-year deal with the Rams after being released by the Giants, and was moved from cornerback to safety. He had been expected to start at free safety Monday against the Falcons.

Plummer tests shoulder

Denver — Jake Plummer tested his sore right shoulder with some short passes Thursday, but the Denver Broncos won’t know if their quarterback will be able to play Sunday until he throws deep. Plummer was too sore to practice Wednesday, but he made it through Thursday without any problem. He will increase the length of his passes today before the team decides if he can play against Pittsburgh. Plummer partially separated his shoulder three weeks ago against San Diego, then aggravated the injury Sunday against Kansas City.

Packers re-sign lineman

Green Bay, Wis. — Larry Smith has another chance in the NFL, this time as a defensive end for the injury-riddled Green Bay Packers. The Packers re-signed Smith Thursday and released receiver/returner Reggie Swinton, whom they acquired in a trade with Dallas Sept. 30. This is Smith’s second stint with the Packers, who waived him Sept. 1 after a two-week tryout at nose tackle.