NFL notes: Umpire suspended 1 game for profanity at player

The NFL suspended an official for one game for using profanity in an exchange with Washington offensive tackle Trent Williams during a game last Sunday in Philadelphia.

Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior vice president of communications, wrote Friday on Twitter that umpire Roy Ellison had been suspended without pay for one game for making a "profane [and] derogatory statement to Trent Williams" during the game, The Washington Post reported.

Ellison was not available to comment. Williams declined to comment.

The NFL will not discipline Williams for the incident, according to a person familiar with the league's review. That decision is now final, according to that person.

Williams was accused Thursday by a diversity group that works with the NFL of directing a racial slur and profanity at Ellison. Williams denied using a slur and previously said that Ellison cursed at him during the game.

Williams said after the game Sunday that he had been verbally abused by Ellison, identifying the official by his jersey No. 81. Williams said that Ellison called him a "garbage-[expletive], disrespectful [expletive]."

John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, said Thursday that Ellison responded to a slur by Williams by directing a profanity at the Pro Bowl left tackle, although he mentioned a different profanity than the one cited by Williams. Wooten said that Ellison called Williams an "ungrateful [expletive]."

Wooten said in a interview Thursday that Williams directed a profanity and a racial slur at Ellison after Ellison intervened to attempt to stop players from both teams from using abusive language at each other. Ellison responded with profanity aimed at Williams, Wooten said. Both Williams and Ellison are black.

Around the league

Broncos • Five days after leaving a game with a concussion, receiver Wes Welker was cleared for full practice Friday and listed as probable for Denver's game against New England. "If you had the 'Definitely will go' category, he'd probably be on there, too," Broncos interim coach Jack Del Rio said.

Ravens • Tight end Dennis Pitta might be ready to make his season debut Sunday after being sidelined since July with a hip injury. The former BYU player returned to practice this week for the first time after he dislocated and fractured his hip on the second day of training camp.

Dolphins • Suspended guard Richie Incognito met with NFL special investigator Ted Wells for a second consecutive day Friday to discuss the team's bullying scandal, multiple media outlets reported. Tackle Jonathan Martin alleges he was harassed daily by teammates, including Incognito. —

Week 12 schedule

Thursday

New Orleans 17, Atlanta 13

Sunday

Minnesota at Green Bay, 11 a.m., Ch. 13

Jacksonville at Houston, 11 a.m.

San Diego at Kansas City, 11 a.m.

Chicago at St. Louis, 11 a.m.

Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 11 a.m.

Tampa Bay at Detroit, 11 a.m.

N.Y. Jets at Baltimore, 11 a.m.

Carolina at Miami, 11 a.m.

Tennessee at Oakland, 2 p.m.

Indianapolis at Arizona, 2 p.m., Ch. 2

Dallas at N.Y. Giants, 2:25 p.m., Ch. 13

Denver at New England, 6:30 p.m., Ch. 5

Open • Buffalo, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Seattle

Monday

San Francisco at Washington, 6:40 p.m., ESPN