Elway Won’t Play Monday

Vowing to be smarter when it comes to playing with injuries, Denver Bronco quarterback John Elway ruled himself out of Monday night’s game against AFC West rival Kansas City because of bruised rib cartilage.

“I’ll miss this week,” Elway said Thursday. “It’s not something that I’m going to rush. I’ve rushed everything this year, and I’m not rushing this one. It’s cost me more games than it should have. I’m mad at myself for not being smarter in approaching these injuries.”

It will mark the third game Elway has missed in its entirety this season. He also missed parts of three other games, including all but one series of last week’s 27-10 win over San Diego.

Bubby Brister will start against the Chiefs.

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The Minnesota Vikings upgraded quarterback Randall Cunningham from questionable to probable, increasing the likelihood Cunningham will start Sunday against Cincinnati.

Cunningham, the NFL’s top-rated quarterback, had surgery Monday to remove bone chips from his knee.

Meanwhile, Viking defensive tackle John Randle was fined $10,000 by the league for wearing excessive eye black against New Orleans. Randall was also fined after an Oct. 5 victory over Green Bay for violating the league’s uniform conformity code.

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Colt fullback Craig Heyward underwent more than 13 hours of brain surgery to remove a benign tumor from the base of his skull in Indianapolis.

Hospital officials are expected to release a statement this morning on Heyward’s condition.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers, with Norm Johnson nursing a calf injury that may sideline him Sunday at Tennessee, are scrambling for a kicker after Brett Conway spurned them to sign with the Washington Redskins’ practice squad.

The Steelers may work out former Chapman College kicker Matt George, waived during training camp, today. Another possibility is punter Josh Miller.

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Baltimore Oriole owner Peter Angelos said he’ll probably bid more than $500 million for the Washington Redskins, adding he doesn’t think NFL rules against cross-ownership would prohibit him from owning both teams.