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Browns' billionaire owner dies

CLEVELAND -- Billionaire Al Lerner, who used his wealth from banking, real estate and credit-card giant MBNA Corp. to buy the Browns, died Wednesday night. He was 69.

Mr. Lerner's death was confirmed by a team spokesman. A cause of death was not immediately available.

He had surgery in May 2001, reportedly to remove a brain tumor. In June, he said he had been in and out of the hospital during the past year.

Mr. Lerner was awarded the Browns expansion franchise in 1998 for $530-million, at the time the highest price paid for a sports team.

The purchase came three years after his longtime friend, Art Modell, moved the franchise to Baltimore.

"Al Lerner magnificently fulfilled the American Dream, with extraordinary achievement in business and philanthropy," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "Tough and considerate at the same time, his judgment and advice was always special. His NFL legacy is as much about his being an influential league leader as it is being the generous Browns owner. Al's death leaves a terrible void for all of us in the NFL."

HAMBRICK UPDATE: Darren Hambrick, a former Pasco High star, filed notice this week through his attorney that he will plead not guilty to grand theft, a third-degree felony. Hambrick, 27, flew to Tampa and surrendered Oct. 7, the week leading up to the Browns-Bucs game. He posted $10,000 bail and was released. ... Cornerback Corey Fuller reinjured a torn tendon behind his right knee during the first half of Sunday's win over Houston. He will miss Sunday's game against the Jets. Safety Robert Griffith is expected to miss three more weeks with a broken bone in his left shoulder, and cornerback Daylon McCutcheon (sprained left elbow) is questionable.

Just give him the ball!

Jaguars receiver Jimmy Smith made it clear: He doesn't want to sound like Keyshawn Johnson.

Still, a few more passes thrown his way -- especially some long passes -- wouldn't hurt.

The Pro Bowl player says he is "very frustrated" with the role he finds himself in this season: forced mainly to catch screens, slants and crossing routes, if anything at all.

Smith, who got a $5-million raise after a 38-day holdout in training camp, is Jacksonville's leading receiver with 29 catches for 400 yards. But he has only one catch of more than 40 yards and only one touchdown this season. He's on pace for his least-productive season since 1995.

Clearly, it's not a role he's used to.

"I'm not going to be Keyshawn Johnson," he said. "I've caught the balls, I've been to the Pro Bowls. I'm disappointed that I'm not getting the stats, that I'm in a very limited role. We've just got to keep going out and working. This thing is bigger than Jimmy Smith catching some balls."

BEARS: Defensive end Bryan Robinson has been left off the active roster for Sunday's game in Minnesota after being arrested for drunken driving, his second DUI arrest this year.

BILLS: Cornerback Antoine Winfield expects to miss two more games while recovering from left knee surgery.

CARDINALS: Linebacker Ron McKinnon signed a two-year contract extension. Terms were not disclosed.

COWBOYS: Punter Filip Filopovic and offensive linemen Kurt Vollers and Ross Tucker were signed.

DOLPHINS: Receiver Oronde Gadsden had surgery to repair ligament damage in his left wrist and will miss the rest of the season.

49ERS: Running back Garrison Hearst and wide receiver Terrell Owens did not practice, but both are expected to play Sunday.

JAGUARS: Kicker Tim Seder was signed to a one-year contract.

LIONS: President/chief executive officer Matt Millen, who stirred a controversy last week by referring to an unidentified Detroit player as a "devout coward" and questioning his manhood, expressed his regrets to owner William Clay Ford and select players before Sunday's game. He also apologized at a team meeting Wednesday.

PACKERS: Rookie Marques Anderson will start at free safety. Several players said the third-round pick will replace Matt Bowen and start ahead of Antuan Edwards.

PATRIOTS: Guard Stephen Neal (shoulder injury) was placed on injured reserve.

RAVENS: All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis, who has a partially dislocated shoulder, said he probably will not practice this week and won't know if he can suit up until Sunday. "It's truly going to be a game-time decision," Lewis said. "I'm still not me."

STEELERS: Running back Jerome Bettis and center Jeff Hartings will miss Sunday's game at Baltimore with left knee injuries.

VIKINGS: Running back Doug Chapman will miss the rest of the season because of an abdominal injury. ... Rookie kicker Hayden Epstein signed. He replaced Doug Brien, who was told by coach Mike Tice during practice that he had been released.

-- Staff writer Chase Squires contributed to this report.

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