PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : McMahon Has Four Broken Ribs

Philadelphia quarterback Jim McMahon was in an intensive care unit after being treated for four broken ribs. “The extent of the injury is not evident in X-rays that were taken, but did show up in a CAT scan,” a team spokesman said, adding McMahon probably will remain hospitalized through today.

Detroit nose guard Jerry Ball and offensive tackle Eric Sanders suffered season-ending knee injuries during the Lions’ 34-20 victory over the New York Jets. The Lions complained to the NFL about the first-quarter block that injured Ball, but the league ruled it was a legal technique. Ball was injured after being hit on the side of the leg by the Jets’ Brad Baxter. The Lions said the block was questionable because Ball was being held up by Jet center Jim Sweeney at the time Baxter hit him.

“I talked to the league officials this morning,” Lion Coach Wayne Fontes said. “The interpretation I get is that it is a legal block. They say you can set the guy up and chop him on a running play. I don’t agree with it.”