By Mark Kaboly

Published: Saturday, November 10, 2012, 1:20 p.m.
Updated: Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Steelers receiver Emmanuel Sanders will appeal a $15,000 fine the NFL levied against him for faking a leg injury late in the team's 24-17 win at Cincinnati on Oct. 21.

“We are going to appeal it, and that's it,” Sanders said Saturday.

The team was fined $35,000 because the league says it holds franchises accountable for their employees' conduct. The Steelers had no comment whether they plan to appeal.

Sanders said he is in talks with his agent, Jordan Woy, and the NFL Players Association on a plan to appeal.

Sanders met with NFL vice president of football operations Merton Hanks at the team's South Side facility Nov. 2.

Sanders said he had no indication a fine was looming.

The NFL typically does not announce fines unless they are requested by a player's name. However, the league issued a news release detailing fines against Sanders and the Steelers.

Sanders wouldn't say whether he believed the league was trying to make an example of him and the team.

“I don't know what they were trying to do,” he said. “That's not for me to think about. We are going to appeal it, and we will deal with it then.”

Willie Colon backed his teammate.

“Emmanuel is a stand-up guy, and he is going to do what he needs to do, and everything is going to work out,” Colon said.

Injury update

Receiver Antonio Brown was ruled out for Monday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs with his ankle injury. Also ruled out were Marcus Gilbert (ankle), Troy Polamalu (calf) and Stevenson Sylvester (hamstring).

Running back Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) is listed as questionable.

For the Chiefs, defensive end Glenn Dorsey (calf) and quarterback Brady Quinn (head) are out.

With Brown out, Sanders will return punts. He prepped Saturday by catching punts during practice.

“It is all about repetitions,” Sanders said. “I prepared myself to take advantage of the opportunity.”

Staying together

The Steelers' offensive line led the league in a dubious category last year: most combinations (26).

That's changed significantly through the first half of this season, and it's showing in the line's performance. The Steelers have had only five combinations, with most of the turnover coming at right tackle.

“When you keep that five together and everybody is healthy, the sky is the limit,” Colon said. “We know that, and by God's grace, we have been OK.”

The same group — Colon, Max Starks, Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Adams — has played the past 132 offensive snaps together.

Redman likely to start

Running back Isaac Redman said he took the majority of first-team snaps during the week, which indicates he will start against the Chiefs. Jonathan Dwyer is also expected to see plenty of action.

Mark Kaboly is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at mkaboly@tribweb.com.

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