AURORA, Colo. - Denver Broncos offensive lineman Dwayne Carswell was in critical but stable condition with an excellent prognosis Thursday after he was involved in an accident that ripped the driver's side door off his car while on his way to team headquarters.
The 12-year veteran, known by his teammates as "House," fractured multiple ribs, ruptured his diaphragm and spleen and sustained internal injuries.
He was in intensive care at a suburban Denver hospital after a five-hour operation to remove his spleen and repair internal organ damage. Coach Mike Shanahan said the operation "went as well as it could possibly go," but dismissed any thought of Carswell playing any time soon.
"You just pray for the best. That's all you can do now," offensive lineman George Foster said. "Football is secondary."
Officer Tony Guzman said Carswell was in one of three cars traveling south on a busy, eight-lane thoroughfare that passes close to Broncos headquarters in suburban Denver - when two northbound cars collided and veered into the southbound lanes. Several cars were extensively damaged.
Both doors and much of the front and rear fenders on the driver's side of Carswell's car, a 1994 Chevrolet sedan, were torn off and crumpled.
The Broncos will probably place Carswell on their non-football-related injury list in the next week, which would free up a roster spot for an offensive line that doesn't have much depth.
Denver hosts Philadelphia on Sunday.
FALCONS: Cornerback DeAngelo Hall lost his endorsement deal with Reebok after wearing cleats with the Nike swoosh during Monday night's victory over the Jets. The NFL has a 10-year endorsement deal with Reebok that requires all players to wear Reebok apparel from head to toe, with the exception of shoes. An agreement with Nike allows players to choose Nike shoes or Reeboks. And some, including Hall, have contracts to wear one brand or the other. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said it's "relatively rare" for an apparel maker to cancel an endorsement deal because of an athlete's failure to wear required gear. John Lynch, vice president of sports marketing for Reebok, declined comment.
JAGUARS: Linebacker Mike Peterson lost two classic cars in a garage fire Monday that caused about $500,000 in damage. They were a 1972 Chevrolet Impala and a 1967 Lincoln Continental. He said spreading smoke also destroyed personal items in his house.
SAINTS: Starting linebacker Courtney Watson was charged with drunken driving after his arrest early Wednesday on Interstate 10 at San Antonio. Police said an open bottle of beer was found in the car and that Watson was "combative."
EMMITT SMITH HONOR: Former Dallas Cowboys and Florida Gators running back Emmitt Smith has been named an inductee into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame - again. Smith initially was to have been inducted in 2003, but declined because of a commitment to attend his daughter's music recital. Hall of Fame rules require honorees to attend the ceremony. Among other inductees is former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Bucs receiver Tim Brown.
