Chicago Bears offensive linemen Olin Kreutz and Fred Miller were fined $50,000 each yesterday for a fight that violated the NFL's personal conduct policy.

The players were involved in the fight last month at the FBI shooting range in the Chicago area, prompting an internal investigation by the bureau.

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue fined Kreutz and Miller because the league's special conduct policy addresses off-field matters. It specifically prohibits conduct that endangers NFL employees and casts a negative light on the league and its players.

Kreutz broke Miller's jaw during the altercation. Miller, who needed surgery, originally claimed he was hurt in a fall at home. Bears coach Lovie Smith was unaware of the fight until days after it occurred.

Kreutz, a Saint Louis School alum from Honolulu, said he would appeal.

"I'm going to fight it obviously," he said yesterday after the Bears' practice in Lake Forest, Ill. "I don't want to pay that fine. I don't think it's an appropriate fine, but that's what it came back at. I don't know how much I can do about it, but I'm going to fight it."

Miller declined comment. Neither player was suspended.

The broken jaw knocked Miller, one of the key offseason acquisitions, out of the 49ers' game on Nov. 13 and ended a run of 110 straight starts dating to 1998.

Kreutz has not missed any games because of the incident.

CHARGERS

TOMLINSON PRACTICES; WILL PLAY AGAINST MIAMI

LaDainian Tomlinson practiced yesterday for the first time this week as the San Diego Chargers continued preparations for tomorrow's home game against the Miami Dolphins.

Tomlinson, the NFL's fifth-leading rusher, bruised his chest in Sunday night's victory over the Oakland Raiders. Tomlinson said he was injured when Raiders linebacker Danny Clark dug his fist into his chest near the end of a tackle.

Tomlinson doesn't anticipate the ailment slowing him Sunday as the Chargers (8-4) go for their sixth straight win.

"It went fine," Tomlinson said after participating in the team's light workout.

Meanwhile, linebacker Shawne Merriman missed practice because of swelling after having pins removed from his fractured left wrist.

"Nobody has said anything about it and I feel pretty good," Merriman said. "It's just this dang swelling. I can grab weights and stuff like that. I feel fine, it's just a matter of that swelling."

JAGUARS

TAYLOR IN, BUT MEESTER OUT FOR THE SEASON

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor will play against Indianapolis tomorrow after missing three of the past four games because of an ankle injury, but starting center Brad Meester's biceps injury will force him to miss the rest of the season.

Jags coach Jack Del Rio said yesterday that Taylor would be activated for the first time since the Tennessee game on Nov. 20. Del Rio did not indicate whether Taylor would start the game.

"It's good to have him back. He's practiced well this week," Del Rio said of the club's career rushing leader.

Meester was placed on injured reserve yesterday with the biceps injury he suffered Sunday against Cleveland. He is set to have surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala.

ELSEWHERE

Bills: Buffalo running back Willis McGahee, who has rushed for 1,029 yards this year, didn't practice yesterday because of an illness. McGahee wasn't added to the injury report, and coach Mike Mularkey said he believes McGahee will be fine when Buffalo hosts New England tomorrow.

Jets: New York running back Curtis Martin was downgraded to questionable from probable yesterday with a sore right knee and will be a game-time decision against Oakland tomorrow. The 32-year-old Martin last missed a game in 1998, and has missed only four in his 11-year career.

Ravens: Offensive tackle Orlando Brown was placed on injured reserve yesterday by Baltimore because of recurring back problems from an auto accident. The 6-foot-7, 360-pound Brown is in his 10th season in the NFL. He missed the past three games after his car was rear-ended nearly a month ago.

Redskins: Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington missed practice again yesterday because of a bruised right thigh and most likely will not play against Arizona. Arrington hurt his leg last week against St. Louis. He is listed as questionable on the injury report for tomorrow's road game.

Seahawks: NFC West champion Seattle placed linebacker Jamie Sharper on injured reserve yesterday, ending his season. Sharper, a nine-year veteran who signed as a free agent in April, started the first eight games this season before being sidelined by a staph infection in his right knee.