McElroy has concussion, out for finale

Having your quarterback sacked 11 times in a single game usually means changes are in store, especially if your team is preparing for a meaningless game.

The Jets on Thursday said rookie Greg McElroy has a concussion and will be replaced Sunday by former starter Mark Sanchez in New York's season finale at Buffalo. The Bills, by the way, are also playing out the string.

Jets coach Rex Ryan walked into his news conference before Thursday's practice and opened with: "You're not going to believe this."

Then he spoke about how McElroy, who started the season as the third-string quarterback, disclosed on Thursday that he had a concussion.

McElroy, who was preparing to make his second NFL start, was lifting weights Thursday when he started getting headaches, Ryan said. McElroy then told the training staff that he had been suffering concussion-like symptoms since Sunday's 27-17, 11-sack loss to the Chargers.

The NFL has fined Carolina quarterback Cam Newton $21,000 for abusive conduct toward a referee, a person familiar with the penalty told the Associated Press.

Newton shouted at and bumped referee Jerome Boger late in the Panthers' penalty-plagued 17-6 win Sunday over the Raiders. Newton apologized afterward, saying "the words that I said during the game were very disrespectful."

Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent was drunk when he was behind the wheel during the car crash that killed teammate and friend Jerry Brown, according to documents released by police in Texas.

Brent, who will turn 25 next month, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.189 percent, more than twice the Texas limit of 0.08 percent, police said. To register 0.189, the 320-pound lineman would have had to down the equivalent of more than 20 12-ounce beers in the three hours before the Dec. 8 crash that killed Brown and totaled Brent's Mercedes-Benz.

Police said Brent was driving over the speed limit on an access road in Irving, Texas, when he struck a curb and flipped the car.

Brent, who was driving with a suspended license, was indicted Wednesday on a count of intoxication manslaughter. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

His lawyer, George Milner, did not return a phone message.

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has won his appeal of a four-game suspension for use of performance-enhancing substances, making him eligible for the season finale against St. Louis and the playoffs.

Sherman tweeted, "I won," announcing former NFL executive Bob Wallace's decision. "Thank you @nfl for upholding the truth!"