Gannon Says Break Won’t Sideline Him

Oakland Raider quarterback Rich Gannon softly squeezed his bandaged and splinted left wrist, and vowed a broken bone would not stop him from playing this week against the Miami Dolphins.

“There’s a break in there, but it’s not like something that needs to be casted,” Gannon said Monday. “Right now I anticipate playing.”

Gannon, a right-hander, was injured after throwing the deciding touchdown against the New York Jets on Sunday.

Raider tailback Tyrone Wheatley remained in a hospital for further tests on his injured back. Coach Jon Gruden said tests so far have shown no serious damage.

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San Diego Charger defensive end Chris Mims was charged with four misdemeanors in an alleged attack on a man outside a fast food restaurant. The City Attorney’s office charged Mims with assault with a deadly weapon, battery, petty theft and urinating in public. His arraignment is Nov. 19. . . . Charger running back Natrone Means underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and will be lost for two to four weeks. . . . San Francisco 49er quarterback Steve Young plans to seek at least one more medical opinion this week about his concussion problems amid more signs that his season and possibly his career are over. . . . Dan Marino’s arm strength is improving, but his availability this week is uncertain, pending a visit with a specialist in Los Angeles to examine a bone spur in his neck, Miami Dolphin Coach Jimmy Johnson said. . . . Tampa Bay Buccaneer quarterback Trent Dilfer’s streak of 72 consecutive starts will end Sunday when Eric Zeier replaces him against the Detroit Lions, Coach Tony Dungy announced. . . . Baltimore Raven Coach Brian Billick has turned his sputtering offense over to Tony Banks, who will become the team’s third starting quarterback in seven weeks. . . . New York Jet defensive back Kevin Williams has been taken off a respirator, but will remain indefinitely at Lenox Hill Hospital.