Steve McNair to stand trial for DUI
NASHVILLE, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair has been ordered to stand trial on a drunk driving charge.
McNair, who is in the midst of the best season in his nine year NFL career, was arrested on May 22 and charged with drunken driving and possession of a handgun. The blood-alcohol test he took registered a .18, well above Tennessee's legal limit of 0.10.
In court Tuesday morning, it was decided that a preliminary hearing would be held in the case. No date was set.
The Tennessean reported on its Web site that police have refused to release the videotape of McNair's arrest, taken from the patrol car of officer Shawn Taylor, saying it is part of a continuing investigation.
The paper reported that in June, during a talk with kids attending his summer football camp, McNair vowed "it will never happen again."
The former No. 1 draft pick out of Alcorn State led the Titans to the AFC title game last season.
Brooking sidelined by back injury
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The injury-riddled Atlanta Falcons will be without linebacker Keith Brooking for up to six weeks with three fractured vertebrae in his lower back.
He suffered the injury in Sunday's 45-17 loss to New Orleans.
"There's nothing that's ever been more painful than this," Brooking told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "When they took me to the hospital and did the CT scan, that's when they found the fractures."
The loss of Brooking, the club's best defensive player, is another blow to a unit that has been decimated by injuries.
Already lost are linebackers Sam Rogers and Will Overstreet to season-ending surgeries. Safety Cory Hall has missed five games with a knee injury, and star quarterback Michael Vick has been slow to recover from a broken right fibula suffered in the preseason.
The Falcons rank last in the NFL in total defense and have surrendered a league-high 220 points. After a season-opening win at Dallas, the Falcons (1-6) have dropped their last six games and own the NFL's worst record.
Giants place Seubert on IR
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The New York Giants have placed starting left guard Rich Seubert on injured reserve, thus ending his season.
The move had been expected as Seubert underwent surgery Monday to repair fractures in his right tibia, fibula, and ankle suffered in Sunday's 14-10 loss to Philadelphia.
A rod was inserted in the tibia, a plate in the fibula, and screws were inserted in the ankle.
Seubert, 24, will be unable to bear any weight on the leg for three months. His rehabilitation is expected to last seven to eight months.
Rookie Jeff Roehl, who filled in at left tackle earlier this season when Luke Petitgout was injured, will replace Seubert at left guard.
The Giants have two new starters on their offensive line this season. Seubert and Petitgout, the left tackle, were the starters from last season.
New York (2-4), in last place in the NFC East and with a three-game losing streak, has signed offensive lineman Omar Smith from the practice squad to replace Seubert on the roster.
Shoulder injury sidelines Eric Lindros
NEW YORK, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The New York Rangers have announced that Eric Lindros will miss some time with a sprain in the area where his left shoulder and collarbone meet the chest.
He likely will miss two to four weeks.
The injury-prone Lindros landed awkwardly on his left elbow after being hooked by Florida defenseman Mike Van Ryn in New York's 3-1 victory over Florida Monday night.
He has been sidelined for 67 games since the 1997-98 season because of injuries, but missed just one game in 2002-03 due to a suspension. The increased playing time did not help his production as the four-time 40-goal scorer had just 19 goals and 34 assists, both career lows.
He was booed on his introduction before Thursday's home opener.
Over his first two seasons with the Rangers, Lindros, 30, had 56 goals and 70 assists with 279 penalty minutes in 153 games.
The 6-5 center has 346 goals and 439 assists with 1,225 penalty minutes in 639 career contests with the Rangers and Philadelphia.
