Sanders was fined $15,000 and the organization $35,000. Sanders grabbed the back of his leg and collapsed to the ground during the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh’s 24-17 win.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson handed out the discipline after meeting with Sanders last week.
Sanders initially played coy in public comments about the incident but in recent weeks has said the matter was being handled internally.
During the Steelers-Bengals game, NBC announcers openly discussed their belief Sanders apparently was deliberately feigning an injury for the purpose of saving a timeout.
Anderson said the league found no evidence the Steelers, on an organization-wide basis, were instructing or condoning the faking of injuries for competitive purposes.
“If I believed that to be the case, the discipline would be substantially more,” Anderson said. “Instead, it reflects the commissioner’s strong view that it is the responsibility of the club to insure that its players are familiar with and in compliance with the league’s competitive rules.”
PATRIOTS ROOKIE RB BOLDEN SUSPENDED
New England Patriots running back Brandon Bolden was suspended by the NFL for four games without pay for violating its policy on performance-enhancing substances.
The league’s announcement did not specify the substance.
Bolden, signed as a rookie free agent from Mississippi, can return to the active roster on Dec. 3, one day after the Patriots’ game at the Miami Dolphins. He was inactive for the past two games with a knee injury after rushing for 234 yards and two touchdowns in six games.
EXTRA POINTS
The Cowboys will be without running back DeMarco Murray for the fourth consecutive game. Murray (sprained right foot) was listed out for Sunday’s game at Philadelphia. Center Phil Costa (ankle) and defensive tackle Sean Lissemore (ankle) will also miss another game. … Vikings receiver Percy Harvin was listed as doubtful for the game against Detroit after a sprained left ankle kept him out of practice all week. …Giants right guard Chris Snee practiced for the first time this week Friday and his status is listed as questionable because of a sprained ankle. … Texans coach Gary Kubiak said tight end Owen Daniels was “very limited’ in practice with a back injury and could miss the game in Chicago. … The Bengals added defensive tackle Pat Sims to the 53-man roster, adding depth to a defensive line that has struggled. Sims missed training camp and the first eight games because of a hamstring injury. … Detroit safeties Louis Delmas and Amari Spievey will sit out at Minnesota. Delmas has a knee injury, and Spievey is recovering from a concussion. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson was limited in practice and is listed as questionable. … The Panthers announced that former Browns and Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, 71, will serve as a consultant during their search for a new GM.
