Broncos and coach fined $50,000 each for filming a 49ers practice

The NFL fined the Denver Broncos and Coach Josh McDaniels $50,000 each because the team’s video operations director broke league rules by filming a San Francisco 49ers practice in London last month.

The NFL investigation determined Steve Scarnecchia took the six-minute video of the walk-through and presented it that day to McDaniels. The coach declined to view it, but the NFL fined both the coach and team because the matter was not promptly reported, as required by the league.

“We certainly did not view or do anything with the footage, and he was made aware that it was something we didn’t condone in our organization,” McDaniels said Saturday. “I failed to follow through and report it to the proper individuals in our organization and with the league.”

Scarnecchia and McDaniels previously worked for the New England Patriots, who were found to have violated league rules when they videotaped New York Jets coaches sending in signals during a game four years ago in a scandal dubbed Spygate.

Broncos chief operating officer Joe Ellis said the team was aware Scarnecchia had been involved in Spygate, but not the specifics, when hired.

“He knew full well coming in what was expected of him in terms of the type of behavior we expect out of him,” Ellis said on a conference call.

Scarnecchia was fired by the Broncos and notified by Commissioner Roger Goodell that as a repeat violator of league rules regarding integrity he faced a hearing to determine if he would be banned from the NFL.

The investigation concerned practices at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 30, the day before the 49ers’ 24-16 win over the Broncos. It was the only time the teams worked out on the same field in London.

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New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith was arrested Saturday in Louisiana after he was accused of grabbing his wife’s hair and pulling her down the street. Smith was released on $1,000 bond, according to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Department.

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Shawne Merriman’s first season with the Buffalo Bills ended before it even began, when the once-feared pass rusher was put on injured reserve because of a nagging Achilles’ tendon injury.

New York Giants left tackle Shawn Andrews has been released from the hospital following treatment for a chronic back condition.

TENNIS: Federer to face Nadal

Roger Federer was nearly perfect for the fourth straight match at the ATP World Tour Finals in London, easily beating Novak Djokovic, 6-1, 6-4, to set up a final against Rafael Nadal, who defeated Andy Murray, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (6).

“I was able to outplay him at times, play aggressive,” said Federer, who has won a record 16 Grand Slam titles. “I took it to him, exactly the way I was hoping to make it.”

Federer has won in straight sets in all four of his matches at the season-ending tournament for the top eight players in the world. Up next, however, is Nadal, who has won the last three Grand Slam titles but needed more than three hours to beat Murray.

“Obviously, I’m really looking forward to playing against Rafa tomorrow. Who wouldn’t?” said Federer, who has beaten Nadal twice in the semifinals of the tour finals.

WINTER SPORTS: Austrians dominate men’s downhill

Michael Walchhofer led a strong Austrian showing at Lake Louise, Canada, to win the first men’s downhill of the World Cup season.

The 35-year-old Walchhofer, competing in his last World Cup season, recorded the first downhill victory by an Austrian man since March 2009.

Mario Scheiber of Austria and Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway tied for second, with Austria’s Klaus Kroell sixth.

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Tessa Worley of France used a strong second run to win a World Cup giant slalom, edging Olympic champion Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany by 0.01 of a second at Aspen, Colo. Kathrin Hoelzel of Germany was third.

Three-time overall World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn failed to finish the first run after taking a wide turn and skiing off the course. Julia Mancuso was the top American finisher, placing eighth. She was in second place coming into the final run, but her ski was wobbling as she made her final trip through the course.

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Takahiko Kozuka won figure skating’s Trophee Bompard at Paris after an exceptional men’s free program, surpassing his Cup of China win three weeks ago with an even better overall score.

Overnight leader Kiira Korpi of Finland won the women’s event, overcoming a fall and one mistimed jump in her free skate to narrowly hold off Americans Mirai Nagasu and Alissa Czisny, who took silver and bronze.

Florent Amodio of France won the men’s silver, with Brandon Mroz of the United States taking bronze, continuing his good form after finishing second at the Cup of China.

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Trevor Marsicano of the United States beat Dutch speedskater Simon Kuipers to win the 1,500-meter World Cup event in Hamar, Norway. U.S. two-time Olympic champion Shani Davis finished third. … Olympic champion Austria dominated the season’s first ski jump World Cup team event at Kuusamo, Finland, beating Norway and Japan.

ETC.: Baxter wins cross-country

Sarah Baxter from Simi Valley High established a freshman record in winning the state Division I girls’ cross-country championship by covering the five-kilometer course at Woodward Park in Fresno in 16 minutes 57 seconds. Her time was the fastest since 1996 and the third-fastest ever over the course that annually hosts the state championships.

In the boys’ races, Ammar Moussa of Arcadia High won his second consecutive Division I title in 14:43, the best time in any division since 2007. Elias Gedyon of Los Angeles Loyola High ran 14:52 to win his third consecutive Division II title.

—Melissa Rohlin

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Dimitar Berbatov scored five goals to lead Manchester United into the English Premier League soccer lead with a 7-1 rout of Blackburn. Berbatov took just two minutes to end a 10-match goal drought dating to September. United helped the Premier League set a single-day scoring record with 36 goals, according to Sky Sports.

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Carl Froch of Britain dominated Arthur Abraham of Germany from the start to earn a unanimous 12-round decision and capture the vacant World Boxing Council super-middleweight title at Helsinki, Finland. Froch, 33, improved to 27-1.

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Jockeys Julien Leparoux and Kent Desormeaux have been suspended by stewards for three days for their actions during the Clark Handicap on Friday at Churchill Downs.