PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher wants on-the-edge linebacker Joey Porter to pull his punches, even if it means walking away from a confrontation.

Cowher said Porter's pregame fight Sunday with Browns running back William Green can't be condoned, even if Porter was provoked, and Porter plans to apologize to teammates for it.

Porter and Green were ejected after fighting about 45 minutes before the Steelers' 24-10 victory in Cleveland. After the two began yelling at each other, Green shoved Porter, who countered by throwing punches at Green and Browns fullback Terrelle Smith.

Cowher, always emotional and intense himself but even more so Sunday, said after the game that he supported Porter. Cowher and Porter were angered when Browns defensive lineman Gerard Warren threatened several days before the game to rattle Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger by hitting him in the head.

"I think some of the things that led up to this game probably prompted (the pregame shouting match)," Cowher said Tuesday. "The bottom line is he (Porter) threw a punch as did William Green. Both players were ejected, as they should be. We certainly do not condone that. ... You can't do things that can compromise our ability to win football games. I have talked with Joey and he recognizes that."

Porter called Green Sunday night to apologize and will do so to his teammates before they begin practicing Wednesday for Sunday's game at Cincinnati (4-5).

Cowher doesn't want his players backing down, but he said they can't become involved in incidents that leave their team shorthanded. The Steelers are 8-1 for the first time since 1978 and have won seven in a row.

"It is a great lesson for everyone," Cowher said. "I don't want Joey to lose his emotion. But certainly there is a fine line you have to walk, and you have to be careful you don't cross it. Throwing punches is crossing that line because there is no justification for that. If you throw a punch, then you are getting thrown out of the football game."

Porter was fined $10,000 but won't be suspended, even though this is the second time this season that he has been involved in an incident that Cowher couldn't condone. Porter shoved an obviously injured Todd Heap to the ground as the Ravens were attempting to spike the ball and stop the clock Sept. 19. Heap, the tight end, was injured seconds before but couldn't leave the field without the clock running out.

Cowher understands that teams likely will target Porter for the rest of the season by trying to get him angry.

"I don't want Joey to change who he is," Cowher said. "He plays the game with a lot of emotion and a lot of people feed off that. ... I think that with where we are and with a lot of the recognition that has come, we have the target on our chest and anybody that can get us to lose our focus, and be a distraction to us, they are going to do whatever they can to do that."

Running back Duce Staley is listed as questionable for Sunday after missing consecutive games with a sore hamstring and won't practice Wednesday. Jerome Bettis also may get the day off after carrying 62 times for 252 yards the last two weeks - 10 more carries than he had in the first seven games combined.

Also questionable are running back Verron Haynes (toe), tight end Jay Riemersma (groin), defensive lineman Kimo von Oelhoffen (back), tight end-fullback Matt Cushing (back) and fullback Dan Kreider (shoulder).

Another familiar name returns to the injury list: inside linebacker Kendrell Bell (probable, sore groin). Bell missed seven games with a sore shoulder and a groin injury that was surgically repaired before he returned Nov. 7.