Ashburn, Va. ? Donovan McNabb felt disrespected by the way he was benched by Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan.

“Everything was handled awkwardly,” McNabb said Tuesday on his weekly radio show on ESPN980, “somewhat to a disrespect to me and to the team.”

Making his first public comments since his demotion last week, McNabb said he strongly disagreed with the decision, but he has a bigger problem with the way he says the organization leaked the news to the media before informing him.

“Because of the timing and because of all the leaks and everything that was put out there, and no putting out the fire, so to speak,” McNabb said, “I’m hearing everything through the media.”

NFL

Cowboys put Romo on IR

Irving, Texas — After waiting two months to see if they could get two games out of Tony Romo, the Dallas Cowboys scrapped that plan Tuesday. The Cowboys put Romo on injured reserve, which means he’s done for the year.

Bengals put TO on IR

Cincinnati — The Bengals have placed Terrell Owens on season-ending injured reserve a day after the receiver had surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee.

Bronco pleads not guilty

Aurora, Colo. — The third Denver Broncos player arrested this season has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery stemming from an allegation of a domestic dispute over alleged infidelity. Kevin Alexander entered the pleas in an Aurora court Tuesday, a day after he was arrested and cut from the team.

College basketball

Mississippi St. forward suspended

Mississippi State sophomore Renardo Sidney has been suspended indefinitely for “conduct detrimental to the team,” the latest setback for the talented but oft-troubled forward.

Tennessee reports violations

Knoxville, Tenn. — Tennessee reported secondary violations to the NCAA after discovering 36 student-athletes were given special treatment at the Knoxville bar where a fight involving Volunteers football players broke out in July.

Tennessee athletics officials began investigating possible extra benefits after the owners of Bar Knoxville said following the July 9 bar brawl that Vols athletes were not required to pay cover charges on Thursday nights when some other patrons were charged between $5 and $10.

Baseball

Yankees hit with $18M luxury tax

New York — The Yankees have been hit with an $18 million luxury tax on their major league-leading payroll. It was New York’s lowest tax since 2003.

While the Yankees failed to repeat as World Series champions this year, they lowered their tax from nearly $26 million when they won the title last year.

The Boston Red Sox are the only other team that will have to pay despite having failed to make the playoffs. Boston exceeded the payroll threshold for the first time since 2007 and owes almost $1.5 million.

In other baseball news:

• Reliever Bobby Jenks and the Boston Red Sox have finalized a $12 million, two-year contract.

• Rich Harden is rejoining his first major-league team. The right-hander and the Oakland Athletics finalized a $1.5 million, one-year contract Tuesday after he passed a physical.

• The Milwaukee Brewers and infielder Craig Counsell have agreed to a $1.4 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations tells the Associated Press.

Golf

Woods gets cortisone shot

Orlando, Fla. — Tiger Woods had a cortisone shot in his right ankle 10 days ago to relieve lingering soreness. By Tuesday, he was back to work hitting balls and filming a commercial.