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NFL briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 20, 2000

Saints lose another to foot injury

NEW ORLEANS -- Saints quarterback Jeff Blake fractured and dislocated his right foot late during the first quarter of a 31-22 loss to Oakland on Sunday.

"He's probably going to have surgery," Saints coach Jim Haslett said. "I'm not sure when, but probably within a couple of days."

Blake was injured when defensive end Lance Johnstone landed on his foot. Johnstone was chasing Blake on a first-down play. Blake immediately grabbed the ankle and writhed in pain.

"I was just pulling him down," Johnstone said. "When I looked at the replay, you saw that he had his foot planted. I didn't know until I looked back and saw him rolling around on the surface. I had no idea until I turned around and looked at him."

Blake said he was trying to throw the ball away before Johnstone could sack him.

"The guy fell down right on my foot and broke one bone and tore some ligaments in it," Blake said. "I'm going to be out for a while."

Last week, the Saints saw Ricky Williams go down with a season-ending broken ankle.

STREAK ENDS: Falcons tackle Bob Whitfield's franchise-record streak of starts ended at 123 when he was deactivated for Sunday's game.

Whitfield didn't practice last week with a strained nerve in his right arm, but the team waited until game time before deciding he couldn't play. Bob Hallen took Whitfield's starting spot at left tackle.

FALCONS END EJECTED: Atlanta defensive end Brady Smith was ejected after the final play of the third quarter in San Francisco.

Smith knocked 49ers tackle Matt Willig to the ground with a blow to the head after a running play ended. Smith got an angry lecture from Atlanta coach Dan Reeves on the sideline before he was sent to the locker room.

The resulting penalty aided San Francisco's drive, which ended in a field goal by Wade Richey.

LINEMAN HOSPITALIZED: Bengals tackle Rod Jones was hospitalized after leaving the game in Foxboro, Mass., complaining of chest pains and shortness of breath.

"He is no longer complaining of chest pains," team spokesman Jack Brennan said. "All tests are coming back good. He is not in any serious danger."

Brennan said he would remain under supervision overnight as a precaution.

"He was a little dizzy. ... We're getting expert care," Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said.

ON A STREAK: With his first of nine catches against Buffalo, Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez tied Carlos Carson's team record of 44 consecutive games with a reception.

SACK ATTACK: The Eagles sacked Arizona quarterbacks eight times and knocked starter Jake Plummer out of the game. The last time the Eagles had eight or more sacks in a game was Oct. 13, 1996, against the Giants.

STILL SKIDDING: The Bengals clinched their ninth losing season in their past 10 with a 16-13 loss to New England. They were 8-8 in the other season (1996). Cincinnati has not had a winning season since going 9-7 in 1990 for coach Sam Wyche.

TRIBUTE: The Cardinals will name the press box in their new stadium after Steve Schoenfeld, the writer who covered them for 12 years for the Arizona Republic. Schoenfeld was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Tempe three weeks ago.

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