NFL

Ex-Raider transferred, faces attempted murder charges

By wire services
Published April 9, 2005

MIAMI - Former Raiders lineman Barret Robbins, still recovering from gunshot wounds after a struggle with police, was transferred to a Texas hospital to continue rehab and treatment for bipolar disorder.

The former Pro Bowl center faces criminal charges stemming from a Jan.15 fight with police making a burglary call at a building that housed a pub, gym and jewelry store. Robbins, found hiding in a women's restroom, allegedly beat one police officer to the floor, slammed another into a wall and rammed a third officer's head into a wall. Robbins was shot twice in the chest by police.

Robbins, who has posted a $51,000 bond, will move to a hospital near his father's home in Houston, his attorney, Edward O'Donnell. The arrangement was approved Friday by Circuit Judge Kevin Emas, who is presiding over the criminal case.

Robbins, 31, has pleaded innocent to three counts of attempted felony murder and other charges. Robbins' downward spiral began in early 2003, when he disappeared before the Super Bowl in San Diego, showed up the night before the game in an incoherent state and was deactivated for the game against the Bucs. He regained his starting spot the next season but was released after testing positive for steroids.

NASHVILLE - Titans quarterback Steve McNair said he will return for his 11th season after an injured sternum plagued him for most of 2004.

McNair initially got hurt in September and missed eight games. In December, he had surgery to graft a sliver of bone from his right hip onto his sternum to strengthen it.

"I am excited about coming back to play this season. I feel good physically. My sternum is healing," McNair said in a statement. "I ... haven't had any problems throwing and expect to participate in some of the minicamps."

REDSKINS: Major American Indian groups went to court trying to revoke the Redskins' trademark name, calling it a disparaging reference to millions of people.

Suzan Shown Harjo, one of the original plaintiffs, won the first round in 1999 when a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office panel canceled the Redskins' trademarks. But a federal judge reversed that decision last year, ruling the panel relied on flawed data.

A ruling could come at any time, but the three-judge panel typically issues decisions before the term ends in July.

STEROIDS: The league sent documents about its drug-testing program to the U.S. Congressional panel that held a hearing on steroids in baseball. The panel asked for the number of drug tests each year, number of positive results and which substances are tested for. Similar letters were sent to the NBA, NHL and five other sports organizations.

[Last modified April 9, 2005, 07:10:29]