Spielman to Sit Out Season

Buffalo Bill linebacker Chris Spielman will sit out the remainder of the season because of a herniated disc in his neck, an injury that could threaten his 10-year career.

Spielman was put on the injured reserve list Tuesday, two days after he played in Buffalo’s 23-20 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos. He would not speak with reporters.

“Our doctors advised he shouldn’t play any more this season,” Coach Marv Levy said. “We deeply regret a player and an individual like Chris won’t be able to finish the season.”

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Jim Harbaugh might have broken a bone in his hand punching something, but according to former Buffalo Bill quarterback Jim Kelly, it wasn’t Kelly.

Kelly released a statement saying he never was struck by Harbaugh during a confrontation last week and wasn’t sure how the Indianapolis Colts quarterback broke his hand.

But Ed Kilgore, sports director of Kelly’s weekly television show on WGRZ-TV in Buffalo, said Monday night that Kelly said he was shoved against the wall and the two wrestled on the floor, but he doesn’t remember Harbaugh punching him.

Kelly did not return telephone calls Monday or Tuesday. Instead, his brother Dan Kelly, who also is his agent, released the statement.

Dan Kelly said his brother considered the situation over with. He also said rumors about Jim Kelly having a black eye also were untrue.

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Steeler Coach Bill Cowher said he has no idea who made an alleged phone call to Greg Lloyd that the Pittsburgh linebacker supposedly blamed on Jacksonville receiver Keenan McCardell.

The NFL is investigating McCardell’s accusation that Lloyd put a cheap-shot hit on him Sunday, apparently in retaliation for a telephoned threat on Lloyd’s family.

Lloyd has refused to comment on the incident. McCardell suggested someone on the Steelers’ staff called Lloyd and pretended to be him.

“The insinuation that someone on the staff would make a phone call is absurd,” Cowher said. “You don’t have to do that to get Greg Lloyd up for a game.”