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ALAMEDA, Calif. - Two days after Bill Romanowski seriously injured teammate Marcus Williams in a fight at practice, the Raiders' linebacker was apologetic.
"I hold myself accountable," Romanowski said. "It was a classless move by me."
An apology might not be enough for Williams, whose eye socket was broken in the fight. The reserve tight end was placed on injured reserve Tuesday and he has not ruled out legal action, according to his agent, Lee Kolligian.
"Is there any excuse for potentially ending a player's football career?" Kolligian asked. "He's kind of waiting to see the extent of the damage. ... We'd rather not (sue), but if it comes down that this man has lost his football career as a result of this incident, then I would hope we can get some compensation."
Romanowski ripped off Williams' helmet and punched the reserve tight end in the face, breaking his left orbital bone and chipping his tooth. The fight came at the end of a running play during a 9-on-7 drill Sunday.
Williams, a second-year pro who played mostly on special teams last season, was told to rest at home a week until the swelling goes down, but he has double vision. While trimming their roster Tuesday the Raiders placed Williams on injured reserve, ending his season. Romanowski was suspended from Monday's practice and fined an undisclosed amount by the team, but he was back in Alameda on Tuesday. Romanowski said he had spoken with Williams since the incident.
"I made my apologies," Romanowski said.
RAIDERS LAWSUIT: Al Davis and his Raiders were awarded $34.2-million by a jury that found Oakland coliseum officials failed to deliver on promises of sold-out stadiums in luring the team back from Los Angeles. The verdict was far less than the $570-million to $833-million the Raiders sought to compensate for weak ticket sales and the declining value of the franchise. Jurors said they calculated the award based on the team's losses on ticket sales, interest on that money and local TV rights. Both sides promised to appeal the verdict, reached after more than 10 days of deliberations.
The jury heard almost four months of testimony. It was unclear where the coliseum would get the money to pay the award because the coliseum commission, a nonprofit corporation, has no assets, defense lawyer James Brosnahan said.
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, its chief negotiator Ed DeSilva and the now-defunct Arthur Andersen accounting firm were accused of intentionally misleading the team with promises of sold-out games. The jury ruled the coliseum acted negligently.
BENGALS: Receiver Ron Dugans, who came to Cincinnati with Florida State teammate Peter Warrick in 2000, was waived with an injury settlement, and strong safety JoJuan Armour, who played at Miami, was released. Rookie receiver Kevin Walter was claimed off waivers from the Giants.
BILLS: Willis McGahee, the first-round draft pick out of Miami, will missat least the first six weeks of the season after being placed on the reserve nonfootball injury list. The move was expected. The running back continues to recover after tearing three ligaments in his left knee in January.
CARDINALS: Cornerback Duane Starks and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, who have torn knee ligaments, were placed on injured reserve.
CHARGERS: Running back Leon Johnson, who played with the Bears last season, signed a one-year contract. The Chargers put safety Hanik Milligan, running back Antoineo Harris, wide receiver Tim Baker and linebacker Jude Waddy on injured reserve. Running back Nick Maddox (FSU) was one of 10 players cut.
CHIEFS: Tight end Tony Gonzalez injured his left knee, but coach Dick Vermeil said the injury did not appear to threaten the All-Pro's career or season. Also, defensive tackle Josh Shaw was suspended for the first four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Shaw left the team to enter the league's rehab program and is eligible to return Sept. 29.
COWBOYS: Rookie center Al Johnson was placed on injured reserve. Johnson, a second-round pick and projected starter, had surgery Aug. 8 to repair cartilage in his knee. The Cowboys also said rookie running back ReShard Lee (knee) would be on injured reserve or given an injury-settlement release. Cornerback Derek Ross will have the damaged cartilage in his knee removed instead of repaired and could be in the lineup by the third game.
DOLPHINS: Quarterback Clint Stoerner worked out, an indication Brian Griese's toe injury might keep him out longer than expected. Also, injured tackle Jarvis Borum was waived.
JETS: Jamie Martin signed to bolster the depth at quarterback after the loss of starter Chad Pennington. Martin was released by St. Louis in February. Pennington is expected to miss 12 weeks with a broken and dislocated left wrist.
PACKERS: Akili Smith, the third pick in the '99 draft, was cut. The Packers also cut Tyrone Davis, who started 27 games at tight end since '97. Fourth-round pick DeAndrew Rubin, a wide receiver and kick returner out of South Florida, was among four first-year players released.
PANTHERS: Quarterback Randy Fasani and tight end Keith Heinrich were cut,and wide receiver Nathan Black, defensive tackle Josh Taves and wide receiver Terrence Wilkins were placed on injured reserve.
RAMS: The offensive line got a boost when left tackle Orlando Pace ended his holdout and agreed to a one-year contract. REDSKINS: Defensive tackle Lional Dalton was traded from the Broncos to Washington, then had to be carted off the field with heat-related symptoms. Dalton was not hospitalized. SEAHAWKS: Defensive tackle Chad Eaton, who has had two operations on his right knee since May, is out for the season after being placed on injured reserve. Reserve receiver Jason Willis, who has a broken thumb, also went on injured reserve.