The NFL rescinded a $20,000 fine against New England Patriots receiver Randy Moss for saying there were some “iffy” calls in the Patriots-Colts game.

While the NFL initially felt it should take a stand against such inflammatory rhetoric, it decided to save the biggest fines for more pointed criticism of officiating, such as saying calls are “interesting,” “unusual” or “NBA style.”

BIG TEN CONSOLATION—Penn State’s football team was upset by Iowa Saturday, ruining its undefeated run and all but ending its national championship hopes. Look at the bright side.

Now the Nittany Lions won’t have to play the role of Ohio State in what has become the “SEC Smackdown 2009” national title game.

DISPUTING THE VOTE—President-elect Barack Obama told ESPN’s Chris Berman on the eve of last week’s election that he would like to see college football go to a playoff system.

That explains why Sen. John McCain garnered a much higher percentage of the old guys in ugly yellow blazers vote.

CAN COMPLAIN—Pro Football Weekly reports Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams is frustrated with his role on his new team.

That’s understandable. It’s tough to adjust to the erratic Cowboys after spending your entire career with the expertly run Detroit Lions.

A BIT UNRULY—The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported some unusual statistics about the fans at the Vikings-Packers game Sunday afternoon.

Seven were ejected, three went to jail, two landed in detox and four were credited with sacking Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

IN TOUCH—The New York Yankees and some of their fans moved home plate and the pitcher’s rubber from the old Yankee Stadium to the new one under construction.

There are no plans to move other timeworn artifacts to the new place, unless you count A-Rod giving tickets to Madonna.

NOT TO SLOW—NASCAR chairman Brian France said the sport will continue to field 43 cars in its Sprint Cup Series races next season.

Some critics hoped the series would trim the fat, but NASCAR saw no reason to bring Tony Stewart into this.

Incidentally, the 2009 NASCAR season will begin approximately 90 minutes after this season ends, depending on the number of beer commercials.

NEW SLOGAN—Ever since the Cincinnati Bengals won for the first time this season, the Detroit Lions are in a class of their own as the only winless (0–9) NFL team.

To commemorate the occasion, the Lions are floating some possible new team slogans:

“Detroit Football: Still Lion Around,” “We’re the Bob Barr of the NFL” and “Guaranteed to Win One by 2012.”

GOING LOW—The Oakland Raiders practiced touchdown celebrations during workouts before a 24–0 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

The Raiders vow to spend their time on something more realistic this week: avoiding eye contact with Al Davis.

SHOOT THE MOON—San Francisco 49ers interim Coach Mike Singletary said he was trying to make a point when he dropped his pants at halftime of a game against Seattle. The point: He still has some Chicago bare in him.

COLD, HARD TRUTH—The Philadelphia Phillies won their first World Series title since 1983. The fact that three players lost fingers to frostbite by Game 5 didn’t dampen the celebration one iota.

BIG STAGE—The NBA will hold its 2010 All-Star game in the Dallas Cowboys’ soon-to-be-completed 100,000-seat stadium.

The Cowboys believe they could seat even more than that if Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens’ ego doesn’t attend.

PEAVY SAVES CUBS?—San Diego Padres pitcher Jake Peavy has included the Chicago Cubs on a list of teams he’d be willing to consider going to in a trade.

Peavy could be the catalyst to give the Cubs a World Series win, providing he lives another 100 years.

FANS VEER RIGHT—A Zogby poll showed NASCAR fans had favored McCain over Obama by 21 percent. But it should be noted that fans did not have the option of voting for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

© 2008 McClatchy-Tribune News