Russell and Raiders are close to a deal

JaMarcus Russell and the Oakland Raiders are close to finalizing a deal to end the longest holdout by the No. 1 overall draft pick in more than 20 years and could have a contract signed as early as today.

The two sides met in person Monday for the third time in four days and were hashing out final details of the contract, according to a person familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity. The final contract needs to be approved by the NFL.

Russell is expected to get at least $31 million in guaranteed money, which would be a record for a rookie.

The Raiders would not confirm that a deal had been finalized. Russell’s agent, Eric Metz, did not return a phone call seeking comment. But Coach Lane Kiffin said earlier in the day the two sides were almost done with the contract.

“It just continues to sound like they are getting closer and closer,” Kiffin said. “It could be today. You just never know. I know that the sides are as close as they’ve ever been.”

Kevin Everett sustained a “catastrophic” and life-threatening spinal-cord injury while trying to make a tackle during the Buffalo Bills’ season opener and is unlikely to walk again, the surgeon who operated on him Monday said.

“A best-case scenario is full recovery, but not likely,” orthopedic surgeon Andrew Cappuccino said. “I believe there will be some permanent neurologic deficit.”

Cappuccino noted the 25-year-old reserve tight end did have touch sensation throughout his body and also showed signs of movement. But he cautioned that Everett’s injury was life-threatening because he was still susceptible to blood clots, infection and breathing failure.

Everett is in the intensive care unit of Buffalo’s Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital, where he is under sedation and breathing through a respirator as doctors wait for the swelling to lessen. Cappuccino said it would take up to three days to determine the severity of the injury and the recovery process.

The NFL is looking into claims a New England Patriots employee was videotaping signals by Jets coaches on New York’s sideline on Sunday.

The investigation was first reported by ESPN.com, which said that NFL security confiscated a video camera and tape from a Patriots employee during New England’s 38-14 victory. The employee was accused of aiming his camera at the Jets’ defensive coaches, who were sending signals out to the players, sources told the website.

“The rule is that no video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches’ booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game,” the league said in a statement from spokesman Greg Aiello.

Eli Manning has a bruised right shoulder and it is uncertain whether the New York Giants quarterback will play against Green Bay on Sunday. . . . St. Louis offensive tackle Orlando Pace will miss the rest of the season with a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder. . . . D.J. Hackett, who had just moved into Seattle’s starting lineup at wide receiver, is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle. . . . Chicago safety Mike Brown has a left knee injury and Coach Lovie Smith would not confirm a report on the NFL’s website that Brown would miss the rest of the season.