Harbaugh Slugs Kelly, Breaks Hand
Indianapolis quarterback Jim Harbaugh suffered a small fracture in his right hand when he slugged NBC sportscaster and former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly on Saturday.
Harbaugh will be placed on the non-football injured list and will forfeit his salary until he is cleared to play, the Colts said Monday.
Harbaugh will count on the 53-man roster, but will be deactivated each week until he can perform his normal duties, the team said.
Earlier Monday, ESPNEWS reported that Harbaugh confronted Kelly at an NBC production meeting in San Diego on Saturday, a day before the winless Colts played the Chargers, and that Harbaugh had been upset with remarks Kelly made during a local telecast in Buffalo the previous week.
Kelly reportedly called Harbaugh a “baby” who had “overdramatized” his injuries.
Kelly was in San Diego in his role as a color analyst for NBC and did not discuss the incident during the broadcast. He did not return messages left by The Associated Press seeking comment Monday.
Harbaugh told the cable network, “I regret throwing the punch, but I felt I had to do something since my toughness was being questioned.”
McCardell denies phoning Lloyd
The NFL is looking into what Jacksonville receiver Keenan McCardell says was behind a crushing hit he took from Pittsburgh linebacker Greg Lloyd.
McCardell said Lloyd, who knocked the wind out of him with a hit away from the ball on the first play from scrimmage Sunday, accused him of making a threatening phone call to Lloyd’s family.
“The NFL Security is gathering information at this point with both teams,” said league spokeswoman Leslie Hammond.
McCardell, a Pro Bowl receiver, denied making the phone call. He suggested someone on the Steelers’ staff made the call to motivate Lloyd.
“It’s out of my hands,” McCardell said as he walked into a team meeting.
Lloyd refused comment after the game.
Aikman says he’ll start against 49ers
Troy Aikman had a stiff neck and headache, but vowed he’ll start against the San Francisco 49ers.
Aikman suffered the fifth concussion of his NFL career in the first period of the Dallas Cowboys’ 13-12 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday.
“I have no doubt I’ll be fine,” Aikman said. “I felt I could have played in the second half (Sunday). I felt I had gained my senses and could go back in, but the doctors wouldn’t let me.”
Van Pelt rewarded for performance
Alex Van Pelt’s performance in leading the Buffalo Bills on a 20-point comeback against the Denver Broncos has earned him the starting quarterback job.
Van Pelt, a career backup, who never has started an NFL game, replaces season-long starter Todd Collins in a move announced by Bills coach Marv Levy on Monday.
Falcons waive Tolliver, sign Miller
Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Reeves announced he was waiving quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver and signing Jim Miller.
Miller, 26, spent three years in Pittsburgh and actually was the starting quarterback at the beginning of the 1996 season, but lost the job after only one week.