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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bills’ Levy Out For Prostate Surgery

From Wire Reports

Buffalo Bills coach Marv Levy has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is scheduled to undergo surgery today.

Levy is expected to miss three games and will be replaced by assistant Elijah Pitts. Levy most likely will not return to the Bills before they entertain the Atlanta Falcons Nov. 12.

“I’ve been coaching 45 years, and I never missed a practice and never missed a game,” Levy said Monday. “It looks as though I’m going to have to.”

Diagnosed with cancer during the summer, Levy is scheduled for surgery by Dr. Robert Huben at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Levy’s prognosis for recovery is good since it is believed the disease has been caught at its early stages.

“If it’s confined to the prostate, it’s totally curable,” Levy said. “Surgery is the surest way to know, I’m told.”

Levy, 70, made the announcement at a news conference at Rich Stadium after informing his players. He said he had wanted to wait to have surgery until after the season. His doctors told him he would decrease risks by having it now.

Seahawks lose Stowe

The Seattle Seahawks learned they will be without their leading tackler, middle linebacker Tyronne Stowe, the rest of the season.

Stowe, a nine-year veteran, who was signed as a free agent by the Seahawks in March, fractured both bones in his right forearm while tackling Thurman Thomas in Buffalo on Sunday. His injury came on the first play of the fourth quarter in a 27-21 loss.

Dean Wells, Stowe’s backup, will move into the starting position.

“It’s just a real critical loss for us because he’s really been playing well,” Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson said. “He’s been playing way better than I expected.”

Esiason still hurting

The mighty hit that Boomer Esiason absorbed from the Bills’ Bruce Smith nine days ago still has Esiason trapped in a body that will not respond.

“My problem is I have no energy,” the New York Jets’ quarterback, who suffered a concussion on the play, said. “I’m not even watching films of yesterday’s (Sunday’s) game. I can’t get going. The doctor told me today that if a normal person, someone not in sports and accustomed to contact, had been hit like that, he’d be out of commission four to eight weeks. So I’ll be out something less than that.”

Esiason said he will not play when the Jets face Miami at Giants Stadium on Sunday.

Marino nears record deal

The contract the Miami Dolphins are negotiating with Dan Marino is expected to once again make the quarterback the highest-paid player in the NFL.

The two sides are in the final stages of completing a deal that could pay Marino $31.5 million over five years with a $6.634 million signing bonus. A deal is expected in the next few weeks.

End zone

Miami All-Pro tight end Eric Green will be out indefinitely after tearing cartilage in his left knee in an injury similar to the one that has sidelined quarterback Dan Marino. Green will undergo arthroscopic surgery today, at which time it will be learned how long he will be sidelined… . Washington learned that No. 1 pick Michael Westbrook will miss four to six weeks with a sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee that occurred during Sunday’s 24-20 loss at Arizona. … Cincinnati claimed cornerback Stacey Hairston off waivers from Cleveland. Hairston, 28, will be signed if he passes a physical today.