Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was upset he was fined $10,000 by the National Football League for a derogatory comment he made about Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow, saying players who violate the league's substance-abuse policy are not treated as harshly.

It was the second time Porter has been disciplined by the league this season. He was fined $15,000 for comments he made to an official in an Oct. 22 game in Atlanta.

"I just don't understand how you can get a DUI or fail a drug test and nothing happens," Porter said. "You say something, you get fined. That just don't make any sense.

"You'd think if you get a DUI or something, you should get fined. If you fail a drug test, you should get fined. But for saying a word, you get fined. That's kind of backward to me."

After a 27-7 victory against the Browns last Thursday, Porter twice called Winslow a derogatory name associated with gay men. Porter publicly apologized Tuesday for using the word, saying he didn't mean to offend anyone "except Winslow."

A league spokesman said Porter was fined for "his vulgar and inexcusable statements."

Porter blamed the media for his fine, saying it called too much attention to the incident.

"There was enough publicity about it," Porter said. "Y'all keep talking about it. Y'all going to make them do something. If y'all wouldn't have just kept talking about it, [the fine] wouldn't have happened. Y'all need a story so you keep talking about it. So they say, all right, let's fine him then because everybody seems to be upset about it."

Porter, who appealed the fine he received in the Atlanta game, said he will not appeal this one.

"Appeals don't work. That's just wasting time. I don't even want to have my agent go through all that. I'll have to pay it regardless. They're not going to give it back."

Injury updates

Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu, who has missed the past two games with a sprained knee ligament, said he will not play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

Polamalu has not practiced this week and remains doubtful on the team's injury report. Asked if he will be able to play in the final two games of the regular season, Polamalu said, "I'll try. It's progressing."

Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson, who missed the game against the Browns with a high ankle sprain, has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable.

The Panthers added starting offensive guard Mike Wahle (shoulder) to the injury report and listed him as questionable. Linebacker Brendon Jamison (thigh) was upgraded from questionable to probable.

Whipple awaits BC's decision

Mark Whipple, the team's quarterback coach, remains one of the leading candidates to become the head coach at Boston College, a position that could be filled this weekend.

Whipple, a former head coach at Brown University, met with Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo and a member of the school's board of trustees Sunday to discuss the position. If he is offered the job, Whipple will accept.

Coach Bill Cowher said Whipple would continue to coach with the Steelers through the end of the season, even if gets the job.

New York Giants quarterback coach Kevin Gilbride, a former Steelers assistant, also has interviewed for the position, which became vacant when Tom O'Brien left to become coach at North Carolina State.

Bettis' mom appears here

Despite the recent death of her husband, Gladys Bettis will be in Monroeville tomorrow to sign copies and read segments of her son's new book, "Driving Home." Mrs. Bettis wanted to do the appearance beginning at 11 a.m. at Barnes & Noble, 145 Mall Circle Dr., to remember her husband, John, who died Nov. 28 at the age of 61. Also, she wanted to raise funds for Jerome Bettis' The Bus Stops Here Foundation, which benefits disadvantaged children.

She will read from the book from 11 a.m. to noon and sign copies of the book beginning at noon.