PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Anderson Advised of Risks Before Game

Wide receiver Flipper Anderson, who decided to continue playing football despite a painful back injury, was advised by team physicians beforehand that he risked no neurological damage by remaining on the field.

“You have to hand it to him,” said Dr. Neal ElAttrache. “When it was explained to him that he wouldn’t cause himself any damage, but might have some pain, he was able to overcome the discomfort and play.

“What he was asking us was, ‘Am I going to risk paralysis by playing?’ We told him he was not going to risk any neurological damage, but it might prolong how long he has some back pain and spasm. It was his decision to play or not.”

Anderson injured his transverse process, which are finger-like bones that come off the vertebrae that provide attachments for muscles that allow the torso to bend and rotate. The transverse process, ElAttrache said, has nothing to do with the support of the nerves that run down the legs.

“What happens with violent twisting and torqueing, like a receiver would get when hit in midair, is an instantaneous tugging on the processes,” ElAttrache said. “The pelvic rim can also come down on those finger-like bones and snap them off. That’s what happened to Flipper in 1991.”

Anderson sat out four games in 1991 after breaking three bones in his back. ElAttrache said the injury Anderson suffered against Kansas City two weeks ago was not as serious and might have more to do with the scar tissue from the first injury than presenting a new fracture.

“It was the same injury but on a much more minor scale,” he said. “I don’t want to downplay this in any way because it’s a painful thing, but luckily he didn’t crack it off or there would have been more disability. Given the geographical region that this thing is in, it doesn’t pose any danger to Flipper.”

The Rams did not include Anderson’s name on the injury report last week for fear the opposition might direct its attention to him.

Anderson sat out practice a week ago Wednesday and it was believed that the team announced he had flu to cover up his injury. But Coach Chuck Knox insisted Thursday that Anderson had indeed been sick with flu.

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Chris Chandler took snaps in practice, but Knox said the team will probably still start Chris Miller at quarterback Sunday against Green Bay and will use Tommy Maddox as the backup.

Chandler injured his ankle in last week’s 8-5 loss to Atlanta, but in the last few days, Knox said, “his recovery has been miraculous.”

Defensive tackle Sean Gilbert sat out practice again to rest a sore shoulder and ankle. Running back Jerome Bettis, who has been bothered by a thigh bruise, also did not practice.