American Football: San Francisco's fury at security lapses

A member of the New Orleans Saints security staff was fired after making obscene gestures and hurling invective at the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

The 49ers, already seething about a fan who managed to run on to the field and into their huddle, were incensed by the alleged profanity and complained to the Saints, who reported on their official website that they sacked the man on the spot.

The fan who managed to run on to the field upset the 49ers' offensive lineman Jeremy Newberry. He said after the Saints' 35-27 win: "What's alarming to me is that a guy like that can make his way out of the stands, untouched and into the huddle.

"He did have a pen. Suppose he wanted to stab me? He could have got me in the face or the back of my neck – I wouldn't have seen it coming. That's not what you expect on the field."

On Monday night Jerome Bettis scored on a pair of short runs before leaving with a knee injury and Tommy Maddox threw two touchdown passes as the Pittsburgh Steelers continued their winning ways with a 28-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Known as "The Bus" for his punishing running style, Bettis had touchdown runs of three and five yards in the first half but suffered a slight left knee injury early in the third quarter and did not return.

The injury is not considered serious, and he was ready to return later in the second half but was not needed as Pittsburgh 3-3 cruised to their third win in four games.