The NFL is reviewing a play on which Dallas Cowboys tackle Flozell Adams shoved New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck in the back. It could result in another fine for Adams or even a suspension.

"Any altercation of that nature is reviewed for discipline," NFL spokesman Randall Liu confirmed yesterday.

While such reviews may be routine, Adams has a history of run-ins with New York, including Week 2 this season when Tuck injured his shoulder after being tripped by Adams. The NFL fined Adams $12,500 for two plays in that game, and he was also fined for incidents in the games immediately before and after that.

Video clearly shows Adams shoving Tuck in the back at the end of the first half in New York's 31-24 victory Sunday. There was then a small melee between players from both teams on the New York sideline, and Adams was given a personal foul penalty though no yardage was marked off against Dallas at the start of the second half.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin said he had spoken with NFL director of officiating Mike Pereira about the play.

"He's already reviewed it with his staff, and they are in the process of discussing it. There was no option given to us (to accept a penalty). To say the penalty was declined gives the wrong impression," Coughlin said. "That specific aspect of the rule has to be addressed. ... There was no eviction, no penalty, nothing."

Coughlin said he was told there wasn't any option because the penalty happened after the whistle had been blown, after a Giants player in the end zone fielded a missed field-goal attempt and stepped out of bounds to end the half.

ELSEWHERE

Jets: Mark Sanchez did not practice for the New York Jets yesterday while recovering from a sprained right knee, but coach Rex Ryan is optimistic about the rookie quarterback's chances of playing Sunday at Tampa Bay. Sanchez sprained the posterior cruciate ligament in the knee while diving for a first down in New York's 19-13 win over Buffalo on Thursday night. "His spirits are good. I know he expects to play. We're optimistic he'll play," Ryan said.

Steelers: Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward strained a hamstring near the end of a loss to Oakland and is expected to miss Thursday night's game in Cleveland. Coach Mike Tomlin says that with a short week of preparation, Ward is "very questionable." Ward leads the Steelers with 72 catches and six touchdowns.

Vikings: Minnesota coach Brad Childress says linebacker E.J. Henderson is in "good spirits" after having surgery on his broken left leg. Henderson stayed in intensive care at a Phoenix-area hospital while the rest of his teammates went home Sunday night after a 30-17 loss to the Cardinals.

Bengals: Defensive tackle Domata Peko had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee yesterday, sidelining one of Cincinnati's best run stoppers for at least a couple of weeks.