NFL receiving leader Wes Welker has been fined $10,000 for making a "snow angel" after scoring a touchdown for the New England Patriots last Sunday.

Welker, who leads the league with 109 receptions, fell to the ground on his back just behind the end zone and brushed both arms and legs back and forth in the snow after catching an 11-yard pass from Matt Cassel in the second quarter. That gave New England a 28-0 lead in its 47-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

The NFL imposed the penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, specifically for participating in an illegal demonstration by going to the ground after his touchdown, league spokesman Corry Rush said.

LIONS

LINEBACKER DIZON PUT ON IR, OUT FOR SEASON

The winless Lions ended the seasons of guard Edwin Mulitalo and rookie linebacker Jordon Dizon by placing them on injured reserve.

Mulitalo started 11 of 15 games, and Dizon, a Waimea High and University of Colorado alum, played in 12 games. The Lions replaced them by signing guard Junius Coston and claiming wide receiver Chris Hannon off waivers from the Dolphins.

The Lions also released wide receiver Paul Raymond from the practice squad and signed linebacker Chris Graham to the practice squad.

Detroit will try to avoid becoming the first NFL team to go winless in a 16-game season when it plays the Packers on Sunday in Green Bay.

COWBOYS

ROMO MISSES PRACTICE, STILL PROJECTED TO PLAY

Tony Romo missed practice yesterday, keeping the Dallas Cowboys quarterback out of what's usually the biggest day of practice in what's certainly the biggest week of the season.

Coming off a Saturday night game, the Cowboys put in their game plan a day early, "so he missed a day where we were repeating some things," coach Wade Phillips said. The team didn't even practice in full pads.

"We think he'll be back tomorrow," Phillips said. "Actually, if he comes back tomorrow he'll fit in a regular week's practice."

The Cowboys (9-6) face a must-win game against Philadelphia to get an NFC wild-card berth.

RAMS

PRESIDENT SHAW RESIGNS AFTER 29 YEARS WITH TEAM

St. Louis Rams president John Shaw resigned after 29 years with the franchise and Billy Devaney was promoted to general manager yesterday.

The two moves in a front office overhaul by a franchise that's been among the NFL's worst the past few seasons followed the resignation Monday of Jay Zygmunt as president of football operations. The Rams are 2-13 heading into Sunday's finale at Atlanta, and are 5-26 the past two seasons.

Shaw, team president since 1994 and de facto president since 1983 when owner Georgia Frontiere also held that title, will be retained as a senior advisor and owner's representative based in Los Angeles. In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, Shaw said he was not forced out, but rather "quite to the contrary."

"This is something I wanted to do," Shaw said. "I just feel like it's time for the organization to make a change."

PANTHERS

KEMOEATU MIGHT MISS SECOND GAME IN ROW

The Carolina Panthers were without both starting defensive tackles at practice, ahead of their regular-season finale against the league's top offense.

Maake Kemoeatu, a Kahuku High and University of Utah alum, missed last Sunday's loss to the Giants with a sprained right ankle, and was limited to a stationary bike during the workout. Damione Lewis, who injured his shoulder against the Giants, also did not practice.

That could leave the Panthers with Darwin Walker and rookie Nick Hayden as the starters against high-scoring New Orleans in a game Carolina (11-4) needs to win to secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye in the playoffs.