Bengals’ Carter Will Try To Play Despite Injury

Ki-Jana Carter decided Wednesday to postpone surgery on his severely injured left shoulder, opting to try to play again this season for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Carter flew to Birmingham, Ala., for an exam by Dr. James Andrews, who confirmed that the running back has a substantial tear in his rotator cuff. At some point, Carter will require surgery that could sideline him for three to four months.

Andrews gave Carter the option of having surgery now or trying to play with the painful injury, which limits his ability to block and run over tacklers. He would then have the operation after the season.

“It’s going to be more of a pain issue,” trainer Paul Sparling said. “Maybe he tries to play a couple of games and can’t do it and the surgery will be moved up.”

Morris diagnosed with disorder

Bam Morris, back with the Baltimore Ravens after a four-week suspension, revealed Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.

“I always thought I had an attention problem when I was growing up, but it was just something we never pursued or checked out,” Morris said. “After I was home I found out my nephew was diagnosed with it and my mom told me I’ve got to get checked. Sure enough, I have it.”

The running back said tests near his home in Texas confirmed his suspicion, and a doctor in Baltimore made a similar conclusion.

“The doctor explained it as a part of your brain that didn’t develop - you don’t think clearly,” Morris said. “I said, ‘Yeah, I can see times I can be talking about something and jump off that and start talking about something else.”’ But Morris would not use the impairment as an excuse for digressions that twice led to suspensions stemming from violations of the league’s policy on substance abuse.

Union gives Upshaw a raise

NFL Players Association Executive Director Gene Upshaw signed a seven-year, $11.2 million contract extension, making him the richest union leader in team sports. Upshaw, 52, took over as executive director in 1983. Since the 1987 players’ strike, the average salary has risen to $800,000 from 218,000, and the players have the right of free agency.

Edwards back with Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks have re-signed defensive end Antonio Edwards to fill out the team’s 53-man roster. Edwards was Seattle’s eighth-round 1993 draft choice and played in 50 games, starting 24, through the 1996 season. He had been waived by the Seahawks last month.

Around the league

Kevin Greene, who has been slowed by a broken toe, is expected to start in the 49ers’ nickel and dime packages against his former team, Carolina, on Monday night. … Three days after missing a 22-yard field goal attempt against Green Bay, former Vikings kicker Greg Davis was signed by the San Diego Chargers to fill in for injured kicker John Carney. … The Atlanta Falcons re-signed linebacker Jamal Fountaine after losing David Brandon with a broken left leg.