AROUND THE NFL : MacPherson Hospitalized

New England Patriot Coach Dick MacPherson was hospitalized Wednesday, his 62nd birthday, with a serious intestinal disorder. He was expected to be away from the team for at least two weeks while receiving treatment for acute diverticulitis. Special teams and tight ends coach Dante Scarnecchia, 44, was named to fill in.

The ailment is the latest blow in a stressful season in which the Patriots (0-8) have the NFL’s worst record and must face New Orleans Saints (6-2) at home Sunday.

“I don’t think that this is only stress,” Patriot chief executive officer Sam Jankovich said of MacPherson’s condition. “There’s a lot to be said about diet . . . and then the nerves definitely play a big role in it.

“It is extremely important that Mac divorce himself from the team for a while, that he watch his diet, that he stay away from stress. I don’t think there’s any way in the world he should rush this.”

San Francisco 49er quarterback Joe Montana reportedly threw the ball again Wednesday, but Coach George Seifert said there were no immediate plans to bring him back to the roster.

Montana threw 75 passes to tight end Wesley Walls at an undisclosed location and later announced that he wanted to go on the practice roster next week.

But Seifert couldn’t confirm Montana’s latest effort to get back on the roster and downplayed Montana’s imminent return.

Montana underwent minor arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow Sept. 12 to clear out scar tissue and relieve pressure on his ulnar nerve.

“The finger still felt a little numb, but the strength was there in the grip and in my arm,” he said. “I would say that I have about 85-90% of my strength.”

The Indianapolis Colts waived 13-year veteran Irv Pankey, who started the last two games at left tackle. Pankey, 34, acquired in a trade with the Rams last season, spent much of the season on injured reserve because of an Achilles’ tendon problem.

The Colts also waived nose tackle Travis Davis off injured reserve and signed defensive lineman Skip McClendon, a free agent waived by Minnesota five weeks ago.