Raiders Put Romanowski on Injured Reserve

Oakland Raider linebacker Bill Romanowski was put on injured reserve Thursday night, ending his season.

The 37-year-old Romanowski sat out the last four games after a series of concussions earlier in the season sidelined the 16-year veteran. He will remain with the Raiders for the rest of the season as a defensive advisor, Coach Bill Callahan said.

“I don’t think there’s been a more dominant player than Bill at that position,” Callahan said.

Romanowski, who wasn’t available for comment, doesn’t intend to retire, Callahan said. If Romanowski retires before the end of the season, it would cause serious salary cap problems for the Raiders.

Romanowski has had dozens of tests in recent weeks to determine his status, and doctors apparently advised him against returning to the field this season.

“I was still optimistic that the results would show he could possibly play,” Callahan said. “But unfortunately, not.”

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Washington Redskin Coach Steve Spurrier told the Washington Post that he has decided to return to the flashy, pass-happy offense that led team owner Daniel Snyder to offer him a $5-million-a-year contract and dismissed talk of a rift with Snyder.

Spurrier acknowledged that he was unhappy with Snyder over the decision just before the season to release quarterback Danny Wuerffel over Spurrier’s objection. But he said he and Snyder have patched up their relationship. Snyder has had four head coaches since buying the team for $800 million in 1999.

“Dan and I are cool, as they say,” Spurrier said.

“He and I are OK right now. We had our differences. I’m an honest person.”

Spurrier said he will try to get his 3-4 team back on course by throwing footballs far down the field on a regular basis, the way he did on his way to 122 victories in 12 seasons at the University of Florida.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneer left tackle Roman Oben broke his right hand in practice and is questionable for this weekend’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Oben’s hand will be put in a cast that shouldn’t keep him from playing against the Cowboys on Sunday.

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Philadelphia Eagle Pro Bowl guard Jermane Mayberry will have reconstructive surgery on his left elbow and sit out the rest of the season.

Bobbie Williams will take Mayberry’s place at right guard.

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Buffalo Bill safety Izell Reese was fined $25,000 by the NFL for knocking over an official in a game against the New York Jets on Oct. 12.

Reese plans to appeal the fine, saying he was trying move the official out of the way to make a play.

“I was coming up for run support and putting my hands on his lower back, trying to guide him out of the way, because he never moved,” Reese said. “It was a play I really couldn’t avoid.... I barely touched him and he fell over.”

The NFL said Reese made “impermissible physical contact with a game official.”