In Sportsfrom United Press International

Sprewell files suit against New York Post

NEW YORK, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Latrell Sprewell, who already has his problems with the New York Knicks, is nowtaking on the New York Post.

Before being disciplined again by the team, Sprewell said Monday he is suing the newspaper for $40 million over stories concerning how the forward broke his hand.

Two weeks ago, the Knicks fined Sprewell $250,000 for failing to inform the team that he broke his right pinky on Sept. 20, two weeks before the start of training camp.

The Post, citing two anonymous sources, reported Oct. 4 that Sprewell was injured when he hit a wall with his hand while throwing a punch. The newspaper said the punch was thrown at a man on Sprewell's yacht after the man's girlfriend vomited.

Marc Berman, the Knicks' beat writer for the Post, also was mentioned in the lawsuit, which alleges that the story was published with a "reckless disregard for the truth."

According to the lawsuit, the story, and subsequent articles on the subject, were libelous and caused damage to Sprewell's reputation.

"We believe we have a strong case against NYP Holding and Mr. Berman," said Stephen G Weizenecker, an attorney for Sprewell. "We are confident that the facts presented by us in the courtroom will prove the reckless disregard by Mr. Berman as published in the New York Post."

Sprewell's agent, Bob Gist, claimed Sprewell hurt his hand while skippering the yacht into safety after the boat was hit by a big wave.

Sprewell has been ordered to stay from the Knicks until he can make "a positive contribution." The standoff had grown to the point where Knicks management refused to discuss Sprewell's status in recent days.

The team made a statement Monday, suspending Sprewell one game for not adhering to the rehabilitation program developed by the medical staff.

While Sprewell - whose NBA improprieties include choking former coach P.J. Carlesimo - already was supposed to miss the first two weeks of the regular season, he was suspended for Tuesday's preseason game against the Utah Jazz.

According to the Knicks, Sprewell failed to begin supervised workouts last week, as he was instructed to do, and more recently removed the splint from his hand without consulting team doctors.

"We are very disappointed that we have to take these steps with Latrell," Knicks president Scott Layden said. "But his actions with regard to his rehabilitation have left us no choice."

Management was not overly concerned with how Sprewell broke the hand, but rather why he waited 10 days to inform them. Sprewell has appealed the $250,000 fine.

Packers optimistic Favre will be ready

GREEN BAY, Wis., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Green Bay Packers coach-president Mike Sherman said Monday that doctors are "optimistic" that quarterback Brett Favre, who suffered a severely sprained left knee in Sunday's 30-9 win over Washington, will be able to play in the team's next game on Monday, Nov. 4 against the Miami Dolphins.

An MRI taken Monday showed no damage to the ACL or MCL in Favre's knee.

"The MRI showed no looseness in the knee," Sherman said. "The ACL and MCL are fairly stable. It's a sprain that the doctors feel will get better with time and ice and so forth. We've ordered him a brace as a precautionary measure. Whether he uses it in the game will be another story."

The bye week certainly helps Favre, who has made 164 consecutive starts - the longest streak of any quarterback in NFL history.

A three-time NFL Most Valuable Player, Favre was injured in the third quarter while trying to scramble out of the pocket. He was sacked by Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington and had his leg twisted while being pulled down.

Favre quickly hopped up but was noticeably limping. He was removed from the field by a cart. It was just the fourth time during Favre's streak that he did not finish a game due to injury.

Before getting injured Sunday, Favre completed 11-of-14 passes for 89 yards, directing the Packers to a 17-6 lead.

Veteran Doug Pederson replaced Favre and engineered three scoring drives in the second half of Sunday's win over Washington.

One of eight players in NFL history to throw for 40,000 career yards, Favre's absence for any extended period of time would be a serious blow to the Packers, who at 6-1 share the best record in the league.

This season, the 33-year-old Favre is the NFC's leading passer despite working with an entire new receiving corps. He has completed 152-of-233 passes for 1,706 yards, 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

Steelers, Colts in NFL matchup

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Colts quarterback Peyton Manning gets his shot at the once-vaunted Pittsburgh defense when the Steelers entertain Indianapolis in the NFL's weekly Monday night special.

The Steelers' secondary has been torched in similar circumstances.

Tom Brady of New England and Oakland's Rich Gannon combined to throw for a combined 697 yards in the first two weeks of the season against Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh secondary has not faced nearly the amount of work as it did in the first two weeks, but should be tested by Manning and the usually-explosive Colts.

Manning has completed 65.7 percent (117-of-178) of his passes for 1,280 yards, with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. This will be Manning's first career appearance against the Steelers.

"Peyton is the key to that offense," said Pittsburgh Coach Bill Cowher. "He does a great job in the no-huddle and making audibles at the line. It will look like they're going to snap it and he will back away and read the defense and put them into a play that beats the defense."

Manning has plenty of weapons, wide receiver Marvin Harrison and running back Edgerrin James among them. Harrison is second in the AFC with 583 yards receiving and three touchdowns, and James has rushed for 428 yards. He has one touchdown.

Indianapolis has won three straight games and owns a one-game lead over Jacksonville in the AFC South.

Despite their strong start, there still are questions to be answered about the Colts' defense, which ranks fourth in the AFC, but Indianapolis has struggled against the run, allowing 137 yards per contest.

The Steelers have Jerome Bettis, who rushed for a season-high 109 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-7 rout of Cincinnati last Sunday.

Tommy Maddox will be making his first home start as the Steelers' starting quarterback, since replacing Kordell Stewart. In three games, the former MVP of the XFL has completed 64.5 percent (49-of-76) of his passes for 606 yards, with five touchdowns and four interceptions.

Pittsburgh has excelled on Monday night at home, posting an 18-5 record while winning its last nine games since a 23-20 loss to the New York Giants in 1991.

The Steelers have won the last eight meetings from the Colts and lead the series, 17-4.

Cowboys bench Carter, name Hutchinson

IRVING, Texas, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- One day after throwing four interceptions in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Quincy Carter is being replaced by Chad Hutchinson as the Dallas Cowboys' starting quarterback.

Coach Dave Campo called a news conference Monday afternoon to announce the switch. He did not indicate a switch was in the works earlier in the day at his normal day-after media briefing.

Hutchinson, who played baseball professionally in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization for four seasons, has not played a down this season and has not appeared in a football game that has counted since his sophomore season at Stanford in 1997.

But he will get his first crack in the NFL on Sunday,

when the Cowboys (3-4) host the Seattle Seahawks (1-5). He could be under center when running back Emmitt Smith surpasses Walter Payton as the NFL's all-time leading rusher. Smith needs 93 yards against the Seahawks to break Payton's record.

Carter had a disastrous performance in Sunday's 9-6 loss in overtime, completing 13-of-22 passes for 202 yards, including throwing two of his interceptions near the end zone.

Selected in the second round of the 2001 draft at the urging of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Carter has started 15 games in his career, including the last 13, and has a 6-9 record as a starter.

So far this season, Carter owns a quarterback rating of 72.3, completing 125-of-221 passes for 1,465 yards and seven touchdowns with eight interceptions.

Aeneas Williams has surgery

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The St. Louis Rams Monday confirmed news that has been suspected. They will be without seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback Aeneas Williams for the rest of the season.

Williams underwent surgery Sunday night to repair torn ligaments in his left ankle after suffering the injury along with a broken left shin earlier in St. Louis' 37-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Team physician Dr. Matt Matava said the recovery period after this type of ankle surgery is 4-6 months.

"The broken bone in the shin will heal on its own and not require surgery," Matava said.

Williams, 34, was injured with less than two minutes left in the game when teammate Adam Archuleta rolled over him. Play was stopped for several minutes, and Williams was crying as he was carted off the field.

The injury likely will not end the 12-year career of Williams, who had never missed an NFL game until two weeks ago when he was sidelined with turf toe.

Losing Williams is yet another blow for the defending NFC champion Rams, who have had numerous injuries on both sides of the ball this season, including one to star quarterback Kurt Warner.

St. Louis has rebounded to win its last two games after opening the season with five losses.

Williams, acquired from Arizona on draft-day in 2001, was a major addition on the defensive side of the ball in his first season in St. Louis, when the Rams ranked first in the NFC in total defense on the way to reaching the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons.

Williams' addition was so highly thought of that many compared his impact on the Rams' defense to that of running back Marshall Faulk to the offense.

Without their left cornerback, the Rams likely will shift backup right corner Dexter McCleon to the left side.

In six games this season, Williams had one interception, giving him 47 in his career. He had a career-high nine interceptions with Arizona in 1994.

Brad Johnson has rib injury

TAMPA, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Jon Gruden Monday suggested the team could be without starting quarterback Brad Johnson for next Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers because of a fractured left rib.

Gruden said in his Monday media briefing that, at the very least, Johnson will be listed as doubtful for this week's game.

He was injured early in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He was not hit on the play, but flinched after throwing an interception.

Johnson did take a beating against the Eagles, getting sacked six times while taking numerous hits.

If Johnson is unable to go against the Panthers, backup Rob Johnson would get the start. He is more mobile than Brad Johnson and completed 4-of-7 passes for 31 yards against the Eagles.

Rob Johnson has a history of injury problems, dating back to his days with Buffalo.

Gruden also revealed that the Bucs could be without starting wide receiver Keenan McCardell because of a left shoulder injury.

Tampa Bay (5-2) is one game behind first-place New Orleans in the NFC South.

Subject: Falcons reserve RB out for year

Date: Monday, October 21, 2002 7:11:47 PM EST

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Falcons reserve RB out for year

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Travis Jervey, a special teams standout and reserve running back for the Atlanta Falcons, will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee.

Jervey, 30, suffered the injury in Atlanta's 30-0 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

The seventh-year veteran had just 10 carries for 17 yards this season, but is regarded as the Falcons' best special teams coverage player.

Atlanta's backfield took a beating in Sunday's win. Rookie T.J. Duckett, the team's first-round pick, sustained an arch injury to his left foot and his availability for this weekend's game at New Orleans is uncertain. Duckett scored his first two NFL touchdowns in the win over Carolina and has rushed for 273 yards on 68 carries this season.

Fullback Bob Christian suffered a concussion in the win over Carolina and is also uncertain for this weekend.

Jones to fight as a heavyweight

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Roy Jones Jr., who has dominated overmatched opponents in the light-heavyweight boxing division where he is undisputed champion for the last few years, likely will face a bigger challenge in 2003.

USA Today reports that Jones has agreed to fight WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on March 1.

Jones (47-1, 38 KOs) last fought on Sept. 7, when he routed outclassed Clinton Woods of England in a sixth-round technical knockout. He has won 13 straight fights since his only loss, a disqualification against Montell Griffin in March 1997.

The 5-11 Jones, who turns 34 on Jan. 16, knocked out Griffin in the first round three months later and has not been tested since. Before his last fight, Jones spoke about possibly meeting undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, but the two never agreed on the split of purse or what weight they would meet.

Michael Spinks is the only light heavyweight champion ever to win a heavyweight title when he beat Larry Holmes in a decision to capture the IBF belt in September 1985. No one has ever won a middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight title.

Jones, whose natural weight is around 190 pounds, is expected to get up to at least 200 to fight Ruiz.

The 6-2 Ruiz (38-4-1, 27 KOs) captured the WBA heavyweight title with a decision over Evander Holyfield in March 2001. He had lost to Holyfield in August 2000, and the two fought to a draw last December. In his last fight, Ruiz beat Kirk Johnson on July 27 by way of disqualification.

Ruiz, who turns 31 on Jan. 4, is an unorthodox fighter, but does not possess as much punching power as many top heavyweights.

Mauck has foot surgery

BATON ROUGE, La., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Matt Mauck, who began the season as the starting quarterback at Louisiana State, Sunday morning underwent surgery to repair a sprained ligament in the mid-foot area of his right foot.

Coach Nick Saban expects Mauck to be out indefinitely.

The surgery was performed by LSU team doctors Brent Bankston and Larry Ferachi.

"The surgery went extremely well," Bankston said. "The procedure involved placing two screws in Mauck's foot to stabilize the joint."

The injury forced Mauck to miss the Tigers' 38-14 win Saturday night over South Carolina. He was injured Oct. 12 in the 36-7 rout of SEC rival Florida in Gainesville.

The Jasper, Ind., sophomore was injured when a Florida defender rolled over his right foot after a making a tackle.

Through six games, he completed 63-of-130 passes for 782 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Also, he has rushed for 175 yards and two scores.

Mauck had not thrown an interception since the second game of the season, a streak that spans 88 consecutive passes. He also rushed for 175 yards and a pair of scores.

If, as doctors think, Mauck is back in eight weeks, he could possibly play in a bowl game. LSU became bowl-eligible with its rout of South Carolina. If he doesn't play again this season, it's unlikely he'd be eligible to receive a medical redshirt from the NCAA because he played in six of the Tigers' 12 scheduled regular-season games this season. He redshirted as a freshman in 2000.

His place as the Tigers' starting signal-caller has been assumed by fellow sophomore Marcus Randall.

Paus out with broken ankle

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- UCLA quarterback Cory Paus, who broke his right ankle Saturday early in the third quarter of a

17-12 loss to Pac-10 rival California, is out for the balance of the 2002 campaign.

Because he is a senior, his college football career is over.

Paus was carted off the field just 2:58 into the second half, with UCLA trailing, 10-3.

"I'm hurt for him," said Bruins Coach Bob Toledo. "He was in a lot of pain and he was screaming, 'Get 'em in the end zone.'"

Ironically, Paus' replacement, Drew Olson, suffered a separated shoulder and was replaced by fellow freshman John Sciarra, the son of UCLA's former All-America quarterback.

"We didn't have another option," Toledo said. "We probably would have quick kicked and played defense. We just didn't have enough bullets left. When you travel with a 60-man roster, you can't have four quarterbacks. How do you prepare for that? You go through spring practice and get some drills, but you can't really prepare three quarterbacks. Nobody in America does that. I've got to sit down and think (about what we're going to do). We might have to use (freshman Matt) Moore's redshirt. I'd hate to use up a year, but if we have to we will."

"You never want your quarterback to take that many hits," said tackle Mike Saffer, who was upset about the injuries. "You can't win the football game if you don't protect the quarterback and take care of the ball."

Paus was 10-for-15 for 129 yards. For the season, he completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,647 yards, with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.

"Everybody has to step it up," said wide receiver Craig Bragg, who caught seven passes for 113 yards against Cal. "Not just one notch, but two notches."

After winning four of its first five games, UCLA (4-3, 1-2) has lost two in a row and is tied for sixth in the conference.

Auburn running back has broken leg

AUBURN, Ala., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Auburn tailback Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, the leading rusher in the Southeastern Conference, will miss the rest of the 2002 season after breaking the fibula in his left leg in Saturday's 30-23 overtime loss at Florida.

Williams, a sophomore, went down on the Tigers' third possession of the game.

"He cracked a bone in his leg, and it will be operated on Monday," said Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville. "He will be out for about 12-15 weeks. A lot of people will say he's not a durable back. This was just one of those deals where he took a lick on the wrong spot. It could have been Earl Campbell, it wouldn't have made a lot of difference."

Williams carried just four times for seven yards before the injury, bringing his season total to 787 yards, with 10 touchdowns on 141 attempts.

Sophomore Ronnie Brown stepped in Saturday and ran 22 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a 54-yard scoring pass from Jason Campbell that forced overtime.