Kanell Has Small Lump Removed

A small lump removed from the chest of New York Giant quarterback Danny Kanell is probably a benign growth, his doctor said.

Kanell underwent surgery Monday at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center after discovering the lump under his left nipple.

Dr. John Daly said the growth, called gynecomastia, cannot be confirmed as noncancerous until a pathology report is completed today.

Doctors thought the growth benign from the start but decided to examine it during the open week for the Giants (3-4).

Kanell might miss a few days of practice, but should be ready for the Giants’ next game against Washington on Nov. 1.

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One of the San Francisco 49ers’ most expensive free agent acquisitions has played his way out of the starting lineup.

Slumping cornerback Antonio Langham was benched Monday, a day after rookie quarterback Peyton Manning burned him for three touchdown passes to Marvin Harrison. The 49ers (5-1) had to rally behind two late touchdown runs by Steve Young and a field goal by Wade Richey to pull out a 34-31 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Langham, a four-year starter for the Cleveland Browns-Baltimore Ravens, was signed to a five-year, $17 million contract, including a $3.2 million signing bonus. But he has struggled from the get-go with the 49ers, drawing eight penalties and surrendering six touchdowns in six games.

“It’s a strange one because he came in here with a good reputation, a good performer, a good guy,” Coach Steve Mariucci said. “He’s all of those things. He’s had some things happen to him on the football field that I think have shaken his confidence.”

Marquez Pope will replace Langham.

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Tampa Bay linebacker Hardy Nickerson apologized for spitting on Carolina fullback William Floyd for the second consecutive year, saying there is no place in football for his actions.

“What happened yesterday is not what I’m all about,” said Nickerson, who was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct when he sprayed Floyd during a heated verbal exchange in the third quarter of the Buccaneers’ 16-13 victory.

Nickerson said he intends to send a letter to Floyd, who also was spit on by the Tampa Bay team captain while Floyd was playing for the 49ers in 1997.

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Carolina tight end Wesley Walls had his left forearm put in a cast after X-rays detected he had a broken hand.

Walls was injured while diving for a pass in the third quarter against Tampa Bay.

Coach Dom Capers said Walls would likely miss at least two days of practice and be listed as questionable for Sunday’s home game against Buffalo (3-3).

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The NFL is investigating whether Carolina violated league rules by not reporting quarterback Steve Beuerlein’s injured throwing shoulder.

The league’s move was prompted by a CBS television report Sunday that questioned whether Beuerlein suffered a separated shoulder Oct. 11 against Dallas. The network also said the team knew about the alleged injury but withheld the information as it prepared for Tampa Bay.

“It’s something that we’re looking at,” NFL spokesman Chris McCloskey said.

“I don’t know where they get this stuff,” Beuerlein said. “Call it what you want--bruise, sprain, whatever. But nothing popped out.”