Hunt’s condition worsens
Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt was fighting for his life in a Dallas hospital Tuesday, and friends and family of the 74-year-old pioneer of the modern NFL were hoping for “miracles.”
Hunt has battled cancer for several years and was hospitalized the day before Thanksgiving with a partially collapsed lung. Doctors discovered that the cancer has since spread, and Hunt has been under heavy sedation since last week.
“They’re trying to make him as comfortable as possible,” said Carl Peterson, president and general manager of the Chiefs. “He’s battling a very courageous fight. We’ll continue to hope that miracles will happen.”
Long an eloquent spokesman for the league and for small-market teams, Hunt in 1972 became the first AFL figure inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The AFC championship trophy is named after him and it was Hunt who gave the Super Bowl its name.
Jones, Culpepper done
The Detroit Lions placed running back Kevin Jones on injured reserve, ending his season two days after he injured his left foot.
Jones hurt the foot late in Sunday’s 30-20 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and team officials said Monday they were concerned he may have a Lisfranc fracture-dislocation, an injury that could sideline him for a year.
“Quarterback Daunte Culpepper’s first season with the Miami Dolphins is officially over.
The Dolphins put Culpepper on injured reserve, ruling out any chance of him returning from knee problems that kept him sidelined for much of the season.
Free week for cable
The NFL has offered one free week of its network programming to two cable TV operators who don’t carry the channel, and one will show the Texas Bowl between Rutgers and Kansas State.
Cablevision will broadcast the NFL Network only for the Dec. 28 bowl game.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said that the week of Dec. 24-30 would be offered as a “free view” for customers of Cablevision and Time Warner Cable.
Around the league
The New England Patriots released wide receiver Doug Gabriel after he caught just one pass in the last four games. … Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Joe Woods was charged with two counts of drunken driving. Woods was pulled over by a state trooper shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday while driving south on Highway 169 in Minnetonka, Minn. … The New York Giants released linebacker Chris Claiborne and signed guard-tackle Steve Edwards. … Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Randy Starks agreed in court to continue anger management counseling, and a domestic assault charge against him will be dismissed if he has no further incidents with the woman involved. … The San Francisco 49ers placed backup cornerbacks Sammy Davis and Donald Strickland on injured reserve. … The latest injury to St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, a broken right hand nearly identical to a break on his left hand, is likely to land him on IR.