Brumfield Plans Return To Nfl

Scott Brumfield, who has had limited use of his legs since injuring his spine in a game last weekend, promises he will play football again.

“I understand it’s definitely a dangerous situation. I feel fortunate that it’s not any worse,” the Cincinnati Bengals lineman said. “I understand there could be problems, but I can’t worry about that. I’m just looking at getting back.”

Brumfield was hurt in a head-butting collision with Bengals tight end Tony McGee in Sunday’s 24-21 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. He remains at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Brumfield said. “It’s a scary situation, and it’s a weird situation. But right now coming back from this is not a question in my mind. I’m going to battle through this and be 100 percent again. It’s the only attitude I can take.”

Brumfield remained in fair condition Tuesday. But he could be released as soon as today, said hospital spokeswoman Cindy Rivers.

Brumfield has full use of his upper body.

“Hopefully, my lower body will get as good as my upper body,” he said.

“I can’t stand. I haven’t tried to stand, and I don’t want to try for a couple of days. But I have all the confidence in the world that within a week I’ll be able to do some things.”

Brumfield, 26, is a four-year NFL veteran. He said he had no recollection of Sunday’s game, much less the play in which he was injured. He hasn’t seen a replay, and doesn’t want to.

Bengals owner Mike Brown called him Monday.

“He let me know that the team was with me the whole way,” Brumfield said. “It made me feel good. All the players, coaches and management have been real supportive.”

Cowboys face big challenge

Barry Switzer may be facing his biggest challenge since he became the Dallas Cowboys coach three years ago.

Replacing Jimmy Johnson, Switzer found a team stocked with Pro Bowl players and Super Bowl ring-wearers. He watched with his headset on as the Cowboys lost to San Francisco in an NFC championship game two years ago and rolled to the Super Bowl title last year, with a decisive victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

There has seldom been a “must win” crisis like the one he faces now with a reeling 5-4 team facing a 1-2 punch of the 49ers and then the Green Bay Packers.

He had his ups and downs in his relationship with quarterback Troy Aikman last year, but it didn’t affect the won-loss column as the Cowboys went 12-4. Switzer and Aikman patched up their differences long enough for Dallas to roll through Philadelphia, Green Bay and Pittsburgh in the playoffs.

But Switzer has never been captain on the Cowboys’ bridge with the boat starting to sink.

Switzer admitted the pressure is on, but he says he loves that kind of heat.

“I like it like that, I like adversity,” Switzer said. “I’d like to get back in this thing (the NFC East race) and win it the hard way.”

Switzer then held two fingers just inches apart and said “we’re just this close to being a 7-2 football team. There’s no panic around here. No worry.”

Bowden’s not interested

Auburn coach Terry Bowden, rumored the past weekend as a possible candidate for the coaching job in New Orleans, said he’s had no discussions with the Saints and has never wanted to coach pro football.

“Maybe I’m a candidate on somebody’s list out there,” Bowden said. “But I don’t want to be in the NFL. I don’t want to be one of their choices. I’m not going anywhere.”

Around the league

The Arizona Cardinals cut kicker Greg Davis and signed Kevin Butler to replace him… . The Minnesota Vikings signed Leroy Hoard in an effort to improve their ground game, which has stumbled since Robert Smith went out with a knee injury two games ago… . The Chicago Bears, reduced by injuries to starting an undrafted free agent at tight end, signed Kerry Cash to a one-year contract.