Friday, November 16, 2001
NFL notebook
ESPN: James' season over
The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS —
Indianapolis Colts running back Edgerrin James could be sidelined for the rest of the season because of a left knee injury, a football source familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday night.
The source, who spoke on the condition that he would not be identified, said James would likely be sidelined far beyond the 2-to-3 weeks that the team has cited in official statements and perhaps could miss the rest of the season.
James, the two-time NFL rushing champion, has missed two games since injuring the knee Oct. 25 at Kansas City. He started 38 straight games before the injury.
ESPN.com, citing unidentified sources, reported Thursday that James sought a second opinion from orthopedic surgeon John Uribe, who determined surgery is necessary to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Uribe is the team doctor for the University of Miami, where James starred before joining the Colts in 1999.
The Indianapolis Star, also citing unidentified sources, said James told teammates Thurdsay that he will have surgery and miss the rest of the season.
The Colts have said only that James will miss the next 2-to-3 weeks.
“Consistent with previous statements, club officials and medical staff have not yet met with Edgerrin James and there's nothing to report,” team spokesman Craig Kelley said.
RAMS:
Kurt Warner fielded more questions about his sprained right thumb Thursday, and he's getting tired of the subject.
The Rams quarterback offered a weak smile at the notion he had the “most-talked-about thumb in America.”
“I think it's more frustrating than anything when people keep asking you about it,” Warner said. “Especially when there's nothing you can do. What do you say? It feels good, it doesn't feel good. So what?”
Warner, who has thrown seven interceptions the last two weeks, said the injury won't be cause for anxiety Sunday at New England.
“I'd rather not have it, but it doesn't make me nervous,” Warner said. “It's just one of those things you deal with and I've been dealing with it for eight weeks now.
“Nobody talked about it for the first six weeks of the season, and then I threw a couple of interceptions, so now everybody wanted to make it, "Well, it must be the thumb.'”
Coach Mike Martz said Warner, who had a cortisone shot Monday, reported no problems with the thumb in practice Thursday.
CHARGERS:
Glyn Milburn, cut by Chicago Bears a few days after botching two kickoff returns, was signed by San Diego to replace a punt returner who had similar problems.
Milburn took a physical Thursday morning and was catching punts in practice by the afternoon.
Milburn was signed two days after the Chargers cut Reggie Jones, who muffed two punts and had just 5 yards on three returns in a loss at Denver on Sunday.
Jones was filling in for Tim Dwight, who suffered a collapsed lung Nov.4. Dwight isn't expected to be back for Sunday's game at Oakland.
JETS:
Santana Moss, the speedy wide receiver who was the New York Jets' first-round draft pick this year, is getting ready for his rookie debut.
It has taken more than three months for Moss to fully recover from preseason left knee surgery. That's about the only thing Moss does slowly.
“I'm ready to let loose now,” Moss said. “I've been waiting for a while. I've been cautious with it for some time.”
That includes defensive backs. With Miami's top cornerback, Sam Madison, doubtful with a shoulder injury, Moss' presence gives the Dolphins an extra challenge Sunday.
“Santana is probably the fastest receiver in the NFL, or one of the fastest,” Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said. “We have to be aware of where he's at. (The injuries) put us at a big disadvantage, no question.”
DOLPHINS:
The NFL fined defensive end Lorenzo Bromell $15,500 Thursday for his hit that broke Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning's jaw Sunday.
Bromell said he plans to appeal the fine.
PANTHERS:
Carolina was unsure Thursday if rookie quarterback Chris Weinke will play this weekend because of a sore throwing shoulder.
Weinke and Matt Lytle split time working with the first team for the second straight day. Coach George Seifert was unsure about Weinke's status for Sunday's game against San Francisco.
“He was all right, but to be quite frank, I don't know if Chris will start,” Seifert said. “I don't know if it's the best thing for him right now.”
Weinke said before practice his sprained right shoulder has improved and he thinks he can play Sunday. He then finished practice by tossing a 60-yard pass with no obvious signs of pain.
BRONCOS:
It is becoming prohibitively expensive to be a heavy hitter in the NFL. Just ask Denver safety Eric Brown.
Brown said a recent rash of fines has caused him to change the way he plays, curtailing his aggressiveness out of fear of being hit with a monetary penalty from the league.
The Broncos have been fined $135,029 this season, including $67,941 for offensive guard Dan Neil alone for what the NFL deemed illegal blocks.
Brown was fined $24,588 — the equivalent of one game's pay — for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Green Bay receiver Antonio Freeman in an Aug. 20 preseason game.
“I said it wasn't going to affect me, but it really has,” Brown said Wednesday. “I've pulled back at times ... , when before I ran through a guy or put my helmet on him. It made me think: "Maybe I shouldn't hit him. Man, I don't want another $25,000 fine.'”
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