Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter has been fined $7,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct during Miami’s 48-28 loss to New England on Sunday.

NFL spokesman Corry Rush said Friday that Porter was fined for verbally abusing the opponent after the play was over.

Raiders defensive lineman Gerard Warren also was fined $5,000 for roughing the passer against Denver.

It has been a rough week for Porter, who on Wednesday apologized for not leaving the field as coach Tony Sparano ordered Sunday.

Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter apologized Wednesday for not leaving the field during Sunday’s game against New England, but said the incident was blown out of proportion.

The NFL sack leader would not leave the game as Dolphins first-year coach Tony Sparano had instructed during Miami’s 48-28 loss to the Patriots. Porter, who is as well-known for his opinions as his sacks, did not take questions after making his 39-second statement Wednesday.

It’s official. Chad Pennington is the Miami Dolphins’ starting quarterback.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said Monday that Pennington will start the Sept. 7 season opener in Miami against his former team, the New York Jets.

Pennington was the face of the Jets the past eight seasons and arrived in camp this year competing with Kellen Clemens for the starting job. The Jets cut Pennington more than two weeks ago to clear salary cap space once they got Brett Favre from Green Bay.

Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown will likely miss Saturday’s exhibition against the Kansas City Chiefs with a strained right thumb.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said Thursday that Brown is not expected to play.

Brown, who was injured in Saturday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, has been wearing a wrap around his thumb and has not participated in contact drills this week.

“It’s nothing major.

The Miami Dolphins drew another name from the past of Bill Parcells on Thursday, working out former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter.

But Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said the workout is merely an evaluation of Carter, an arena league quarterback who started for the Cowboys and New York Jets before poor play and drug-related arrests ended his NFL career.

“We’re just going to keep turning over, flipping over stones and bringing in a lot of people,” Sparano said.

Whether they want to keep Jason Taylor or deal him, new Miami coach Tony Sparano shouldn’t have called him out for missing workouts.