NFL Notebook
Season Over for Browns' Russell, Staph Infection Likely
Associated Press
Tuesday, December 12, 2006; Page E05
Brian Russell's staph scare isn't over. His season has ended, though.
The Cleveland safety remained hospitalized yesterday with an elbow injury, a likely recurrence of a skin staph infection that doctors believed they had removed from his arm during surgery more than three months ago. The team said last evening that Russell was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.
  The Indianapolis Colts overcome the rain and a sloppy start to beat the Chicago Bears, 29-17. The Colts' victory ignites a wild celebration among the white-and-blue attired fans in the sea of colorful vinyl rainwear that populated the soggy stands. Peyton Manning fills the final hole in his legend as the greatest quarterback never to win the biggest game. Leonard Shapiro: Tony Dungy and Manning seal their place in history by winning the Super Bowl. Manning adds a Super Bowl MVP award to his long list of achievements. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes plow forward for the Colts go-ahead touchdown and never look back. There was a collective failure by the Bears' offense, but Rex Grossman provides the most vivid images. Notebook: Two assistant coaches who participated in the Super Bowl likely will interview for Dallas' head coaching job. On Our Site Wilbon and Kornheiser share their thoughts live during Sunday's big game. Photos: Relive all of the action from the NFL playoffs. Audio: Manning on the Win. Audio: Grossman on the Loss. Audio: Dungy Praises Smith. Quarterly Report (PDF) A Slew of Errors (PDF) Graphic: Play of the Game. MARK MASKE'S NFL INSIDER • Jaguars Tackle in Critical Condition • Lions Bolster Backfield With R. Johnson |
Russell, 28, has been at Cleveland Clinic since Thursday, when the Browns sent him home after he traveled with the team for a game in Pittsburgh. His right elbow had become swollen, raising concerns that staph was still present, and team physicians didn't want to take any chances of the infection worsening.
Staph infections have become more prominent in recent years among athletes who share towels, whirlpools and common areas such as locker rooms. Once inside the body, staph can cause blood and joint infections, and pneumonia. In rare cases it can be fatal.
The team also announced that defensive tackle Orpheus Roye will miss the final three games with a knee injury. The club placed Roye, 33, on injured reserve and signed Orien Harris, who had been on Pittsburgh's practice squad.
· FALCONS: Atlanta may be without its two top tailbacks next week as it pursues a wild-card playoff spot. Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood were lost with calf and knee injuries, respectively, in Atlanta's 17-6 win at Tampa Bay. Coach Jim Mora provided no updates on either player's status yesterday after saying Sunday the two would be listed as questionable.
The Falcons survived against Tampa Bay by moving fullback Justin Griffith to running back. Griffith ran for 57 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown.
Atlanta will host Dallas on Saturday.
· SEAHAWKS: Coach Mike Holmgren said leading wide receiver Darrell Jackson will not be able to play Thursday night against San Francisco, another blow for Seattle's injury-riddled offense.
Jackson has turf toe, suffered on his last reception in Sunday's 27-21 loss at Arizona. Holmgren had no timetable for when Jackson, Seattle's leader with 63 catches for 956 yards and a league-high 10 receiving touchdowns, might return.
· LIONS: Running back Kevin Jones will not play at Green Bay on Sunday, and team officials are concerned that his foot injury could keep him out a lot longer.
