SANTA CLARA, Calif. - San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernicks $11,025 fine from the NFL for what a game official called inappropriate language during the 49ers loss to the Chicago Bears last month was cut in half Wednesday.Kaepernick has denied any wrongdoing when he and Chicago defensive end Lamarr Houston went at it after a fourth-quarter interception.I think it shouldve all been gone, Kaepernick said. If youre going to say I used a racial slur and come back and say I didnt say it, then I dont know what Im being fined for.Kaepernick pointed to Houstons own comments that the quarterback didnt say anything offensive or out of line.Houston told the Chicago Tribune after the game that he hadnt heard anything from Kaepernick and that he had said something to the quarterback after the first of two late interceptions by rookie Kyle Fuller that helped rally the Bears.I said, Nice pass, Houston said. Kaepernick shoved Houston.Union spokesman George Atallah tweeted that the union is disappointed that Kaepernicks fine was not eliminated given the finding there was no racial slur used.Kaepernick also was fined $10,000 for wearing the pink Beats by Dre brand headphones following the 49ers win over the Kansas City Chiefs.His fine was more than the $8,286 levied against the Broncos Julius Thomas for a chop block on Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell the same weekend.Im not going to say anything or theyre going to throw another fine my way, so Im just going to be quiet at this point, he said.While Kaepernick has an endorsement deal with Beats and has done a commercial, the leagues contract is with Bose.Wearing the pink version in support of his grandmother for October breast cancer awareness month, Kaepernick knew he could be subject to a fine.Kaepernick used to Twitter to explain his decision, posting a photo of himself with the headphones: I support breast cancer awareness! My grandma is a survivor!Coming off his just performance of the season, throwing for 343 yards and three touchdowns in Monday nights win over the St. Louis Rams, Kaepernick faces an even bigger challenge Sunday night, when the 49ers travel to Denver to take on Peyton Manning and the Broncos.Its always a great opportunity to go against someone like Peyton, Kaepernick said. He does a great job. Hes very intelligent and puts the offence and his team in the best position to win.NOTES: Several 49ers sported San Francisco Giants apparel before taking dressing for Wednesdays practice. ... LG Mike Iupati (concussion), S Jimmie Ward (quadriceps), LB Patrick Willis (toe) and DE Justin Smith (not injury related) were held out of practice. ... CB Tramaine Brock (toe), CB Chris Cook (quadriceps), CB Perrish Cox (quadriceps), CB Chris Culliver (shoulder) LT Anthony Davis (knee, ankle), DE Tony Jerrod-Eddie (shoulder), WR Stevie Johnson (hip) and DT Ian Williams (ankle, shoulder) were limited at practice. TE Vernon Davis (back) participated in the full practice. ... Johnsons hip is not considered serious. Mike Bibby Kings Jersey . But last years runner-up Jarkko Nieminen crashed out despite winning the first set against Denis Istomin. Istomin fired 10 aces and won 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2 to even his career record against Nieminen at 3-3. Sacramento Kings Jerseys . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result. https://www.kingslockerroom.com/Wenyen-Gabriel-City-Edition-Jersey/ . But Josh Bailey scored the shootout winner to lead the Islanders to a 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in a battle of the Eastern Conferences two worst teams. Dewayne Dedmon Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Justin Jackson Jersey . LeBron James believes hes a major reason for their early failures.ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Blues centre T.J. Oshie knew exactly what to do with the puck that completed his first three-goal game in the NHL. That souvenir now belongs to his 10-day old daughter, Lyla Grace, who was born on March 17. "Its definitely going to her," he said. Oshies hat trick and a 27-save performance by Ryan Miller led the Blues to a 5-1 rout over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night. St. Louis has won three in a row overall and nine straight against the Wild. The Blues lead the NHL with 107 points. Jaden Schwartz and Brenden Morrow also scored for St. Louis, which has points in its last 10 home games. Miller improved to 9-2-1 since being acquired from Buffalo on Feb. 28. He has a 2.03 goals against average and a .918 save percentage with the Blues. Zach Parise scored for the Wild, who had earned points in their previous three road games but have lost six of eight overall. Darcy Kuemper made 19 saves but fell to 12-8-4. He has won just twice in nine starts. Oshie, who has a career-high 21 goals, scored twice in the first period -- including a short-handed goal with 26 seconds left that made it 2-0. He converted from the slot at 4:43 and then beat Kuemper on a breakaway for the Blues fifth short-handed goal of the season. Oshie tipped in a shot from Jay Bouwmeester at 7:18 of the third period to complete the hat trick. "This has been an exciting couple of months for me," said Oshie, who played for the United States in the Olympics, "but she trumps everything for me." The modest Oshie refused to take credit for his big night. "The pucks just happened to go off my stick," he said. But linemates David Backes and Alexander Steen were happy to heap praise on Oshie. "Hes been a horse for us all year," Backes said. "He strung a couple of great shots together and a tip on the last one. "I couldnt be happier for him." The Blues posted a hat trick for the second straight game as Backes scored three times in a 5-3 win at Toronnto on Tuesday.dddddddddddd. That was the first time St. Louis recorded back-to-back three-goal games since Dec. 20-23, 2000, when Pavol Demitra and Michal Handzus accomplished the feat. The Blues lead the Western Conference and are battling Boston for the Presidents Trophy for the top mark in the NHL. They are one point ahead of the Bruins with nine games remaining for both teams. "We wanted to make a statement to the league that we deserve to be where were at," Oshie said. "We want that target on our backs." St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock believes his club is peaking at the right time. "Were not going to be overwhelmed because were the favourites in a playoff series," he said. "Were going to embrace it." Even Minnesota coach Mike Yeo was impressed with the Blues. "Theyve got a great team" he said. "They smelled blood and they went after it. "This was a team loss." Miller made nine saves in the first 6:07 before coasting to the win. "We got settled into our 5-on-5 game and really limited the puck possession by the other team," he said. "This was a big step forward." Schwartz netted his 23rd goal of the season on a power play midway through the second period to make it 3-0. The Wild lost for the second time in two nights after dropping a 5-3 decision to Vancouver on Wednesday. "I dont think anyone can really be happy," Kuemper said. "Weve got to turn this thing around." St. Louis has killed 23 straight power plays against Minnesota over six games. NOTES: Steve Cash and Josh Pauls, members of the USAs gold-medal winning Paralympic hockey team, were honoured before the game. ... Minnesota began a four-game trip that also has stops at Phoenix, Los Angeles and Chicago. ... The Blues are shooting for their first Presidents Trophy since the 1999-2000 season. ... Minnesota LW Dany Heatley has gone a season-high 13 games without a goal. ... Wild RW Jason Pominville led all players with seven shots on goal. ' ' '