Collins Apologizes, Makes Promise

New Orleans Saint quarterback Kerry Collins doesn’t think he has a drinking problem although he acknowledges he’s at a crossroads in his career.

Collins, arrested on drunk driving charges in Charlotte early Monday morning, apologized and admitted he was on the verge of blowing not only his second chance in the NFL, but possibly his last chance.

“I realize that I’m at a critical juncture in my career as an NFL quarterback,” Collins said in New Orleans. “I’m very disappointed in myself and I’ve disappointed this organization. In light of this, I’m recommitting myself on and off the football field.”

In other news, Saint wide receiver Keith Poole was sentenced to two years’ probation in La Crosse, Wis., after pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery for hitting a man with a golf club during an argument last summer.

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Philadelphia Eagle quarterback Rodney Peete will be sidelined at least four weeks after suffering a deep cut on his right index finger when his throwing hand got caught in the helmet of defensive lineman Greg Ellis in Monday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Bobby Hoying is expected to replace Peete.

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The San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line, coming off a poor performance against the Packers, took another hit when it was learned that starting center Chris Dalman suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in the game that will force him to miss at least three weeks.

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Washington Redskin defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield is expected to miss the next four games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in Vail, Colo, the team said.

Meanwhile, wide receiver Michael Westbrook, benched on Sunday after missing a team meeting and practice, will have to earn his way back into the starting lineup, Coach Norv Turner said.

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The second opinion on Chicago Bear quarterback Erik Kramer’s aching right shoulder is in, and it’s the same as the first. He has a strained right rotator cuff with associated tendinitis.

Kramer, diagnosed again by Dr. James Andrews on Monday in Birmingham, Ala., will continue rehabilitation exercises and anti-inflammatory treatment.

AFC / Voters Approve Stadium for Broncos Residents of the six-county Denver metro area agreed to build a mostly taxpayer-funded stadium for the Denver Broncos.

Referendum 4A, which some observers believed would decide the fate of the Broncos as well, asked taxpayers to extend the penny-per-$10 sales tax that built Coors Field.

The proposal provides $270 million of the projected $360 million to construct the new stadium, with Bronco owner Pat Bowlen picking up the remainder of the tab.

The new 76,125-seat, open-air stadium will be located on 83 acres adjacent to current Mile High Stadium, which will be torn down. Construction is expected to take about two years, meaning it would be ready for the 2001 football season.

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Coach Marty Schottenheimer acknowledged that some of his Kansas City Chiefs players do not approve of his sticking with Elvis Grbac as quarterback.

“I believe in Elvis Grbac. This football team believes in Elvis Grbac,” Schottenheimer said. “Are there a few people in that locker room who think that Rich Gannon would do better? I imagine there probably are.”

The Chiefs are 0-3 since Grbac returned from a shoulder injury in the season-opening victory against Oakland. Gannon was 3-1 while Grbac was out.

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Cincinnati Bengal left guard Ken Blackman will miss the rest of the season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage and remove bone fragments from his left knee, the team said. He was injured in Sunday’s loss to the Denver Broncos.