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Ruskell breaks leg when player runs into him

Falcons assistant general manager Tim Ruskell broke his leg after a player ran into him on the sideline Wednesday during a workout at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Ruskell spent 17 seasons with the Bucs before being reunited with Falcons president and general manager Rich McKay in Atlanta last week.

"Tim Ruskell had an accident in trying to protect Arthur Blank, the owner, on the field," McKay told Atlantafalcons.com. "Arthur will say he threw his body in front of him. I'm not so certain, but I know this: the player ran into Tim on the sideline and broke his leg, which is not a positive. But he bounced back. He'll be in the office tomorrow, so he'll be fine."

And who was that face-masked man?

"The player was a running back from Alabama and it will be tough for that player to be a Falcon," McKay said. "But we'll see, maybe he can overcome it."

SAN JOSE, Calif. - 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia had a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the limit at which the state presumes him to be impaired when police pulled him over this month, according to court papers. The police report and complaint said Garcia, arrested Jan. 14, had a blood alcohol level of more than .20 when he was arrested near San Jose State University.

The limit at which California presumes someone is unable to operate a motor vehicle safely is .08. Police administered two field tests: the first registered .237 and the second .219, Santa Clara County prosecutor Lisa Rogers said.

Garcia, 33, faces a maximum sentence of six months in jail if he's convicted of the misdemeanor charges filed against him Wednesday, Rogers said. If he pleads guilty or no contest, he could get 10 to 15 days of weekend work, a typical sentence for first-time offenders.

Garcia is scheduled to make a court appearance March 1, according to the district attorney's office.

A red-eyed Garcia made a short statement to reporters at the 49ers' training complex in Santa Clara after spending six hours in jail last week.

"I regret that I'm standing here in front of you in this type of situation," he said. "As a member of the community, I take on my responsibility as a role model very seriously."

BULGER REPLACES McNABB: Donovan McNabb dropped out of the Pro Bowl on Thursday because of a rib injury, and was replaced by Rams quarterback Marc Bulger.

McNabb was injured in the Eagles' 14-3 loss to Carolina in the NFC Championship Game.

Bulger and Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck will back up Daunte Culpepper of Minnesota.

Broncos linebacker Al Wilson was chosen the AFC's "need player" by coach Tony Dungy.

BILLS: Eric Studesville, the Giants running back coach the past three seasons, was hired in the same capacity.

JETS: Coach Herman Edwards interviewed Eagles assistant Ron Rivera for the team's vacant defensive coordinator position. Edwards has no timetable to hire a replacement for fired coordinator Ted Cottrell. Two other assistants also are in the running for the job: Baltimore secondary coach Donnie Henderson and former Giants defensive coordinator Johnnie Lynn.

RAIDERS: With Dallas assistant Sean Payton no longer in the picture, Oakland reopened its coaching search by scheduling an interview with Norv Turner, the Dolphins assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.

SAINTS: Tight end Boo Williams agreed to a three-year deal.

STEELERS: Bill Cowher completed the largest restructuring of his staff in 12 years by hiring four assistants and promoting another. Two assistants have college head-coaching experience - Bruce Arians at Temple, and Mark Whipple at Massachusetts. Arians, fired after three seasons as the Browns offensive coordinator, will coach wide receivers. Whipple will coach quarterbacks. Cowher also hired James Daniel, who spent the past seven seasons with the Falcons, as tight ends coach, and former Lions assistant Ray Horton as the assistant defensive backs coach. Darren Perry, the former Steelers safety who held that job last season, was promoted to defensive backs coach. Pittsburgh also addressed one of its weakest positions, signing cornerback Terry Fair to a $535,000, one-year deal.

TITANS: Frank Wycheck, the fourth tight end with at least 500 career receptions, is expected to retire today. The team confirmed Wycheck will speak at the beginning of an afternoon news conference. Wycheck, an 11-year veteran from Maryland, had two concussions this season.

ARENA LEAGUE: Storm offensive/defensive linemen Jerome King (thumb) and Tyronn Johnson (shoulder) did not practice Thursday after being injured Wednesday. Lineman Cyron Brown was sidelined with swelling in a knee on which arthroscopic surgery recently was performed. All are expected to play in Sunday's scrimmage against Orlando. Defensive specialist Shea Showers (cut eyelid) should return to practice in the next day or two but likely will not participate in the scrimmage.

- Times staff writers Rick Stroud and Frank Pastor contributed to this report.