Notebook: Cause of death revealed in Williams’ autopsy
Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams died from a gunshot to his neck early New Year’s Day, according to an autopsy report released Tuesday.
The Denver medical examiner’s report said the 23-year-old Williams was pronounced dead about 2:35 a.m. after he was shot while riding in a limousine. The report showed Williams’ blood-alcohol level was 0.05 percent.
A medium- to large-caliber bullet struck Williams on the left side of the neck and exited the right, and he died quickly, the report said.
No charges have been filed, but police said a man who was arrested on an unrelated parole-violation charge is a person of interest in the case.
49ers file against city
The San Francisco 49ers have filed a legal claim against their home city over leaky luxury boxes, flooded parking lots and other maintenance problems at city-owned Monster Park.
The claim filed Monday, part of an ongoing battle with the city over a new stadium, alleges the city has violated terms of the stadium lease by failing to make necessary repairs after years of complaints, costing the team revenue.
“The level of deferred maintenance and neglected maintenance is and has been unacceptable,” Murlan Fowell, the 49ers’ vice president of operations, wrote in a letter to the city.
The 47-year-old stadium on Candlestick Point suffers from rusty light towers and steps, cracked walkways, clogged drains in concession stands and broken escalators and elevators, according to the complaint. Broken equipment has fallen into areas where fans could have been injured if the collapse had happened on game day, the team said.
A spokeswoman for the San Francisco city attorney’s office said the matter was under review. City officials in the past have denied violating the lease.
Lewis out of Pro Bowl
Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis withdrew from the Pro Bowl because of a hand injury he sustained in a playoff loss to Indianapolis.
Lewis’ place on the AFC roster will be filled by Ravens teammate Bart Scott, who was an alternate and will make his first appearance in the game in Honolulu.
Around the league
Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue and repair cartilage damage in his right knee. Winslow, who injured the knee in a May 2005 motorcycle accident, was released from the Cleveland Clinic and is expected to make a full recovery. … Jack Steadman, a member of the Kansas City Chiefs’ front office since their founding in 1960 as the AFL’s Dallas Texans, announced his retirement. Steadman, the general manager when Kansas City won its only Super Bowl title after the 1969 season, is the Chiefs’ vice chairman and the team announced his retirement takes effect today.