BILL ROMANOWSKI BRUTALLY ATTACKS TEAMMATE.

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Sports Talk: Discuss the Raiders
Romanowski Takes Blame for Fight: 'Classless Move by Me'
M. Williams on IR With Broken Eye Socket

By GREG BEACHAM
.c The Associated Press

ALAMEDA, Calif. (Aug. 26) -- Two days after Bill Romanowski seriously injured teammate Marcus Williams during a fight in practice, the Oakland Raiders' controversial linebacker was remorseful and apologetic.

"I hold myself accountable,'' Romanowski said of his latest episode of bad behavior. "It was a classless move by me.''

An apology might not be enough for Williams, whose eye socket was broken in the fight. The reserve tight end was placed on injured reserve Tuesday -- and he hasn't ruled out legal action, according to his agent, Lee Kolligian.

"Is there any excuse for potentially ending a player's football career?'' Kolligian asked. "He's kind of waiting to see the extent of the damage.

Romanowski ripped off Williams' helmet and punched the reserve tight end in the face, breaking his left orbital bone and chipping his tooth. The fight came at the end of a running play during a 9-on-7 drill Sunday.

Williams, a second-year pro who played mostly on special teams last season, was taken to a local hospital for a series of tests. He saw an eye specialist Monday and was told to rest at home for a week until the swelling goes down, but Williams still has double vision.

While trimming their roster Tuesday, the Raiders placed Williams on injured reserve, ending his season.

"He's a little scared, if anything,'' Kolligian said. "Essentially he's going to have no film, no playing time to show to market himself to another team next year, if that's necessary.''

Romanowski was suspended from Monday's practice and fined an undisclosed amount by the team, but he was back in Alameda on Tuesday. Romanowski said he had spoken with Williams since the incident.

"I made my apologies,'' Romanowski said. "I said what I had to say to him. I pretty much told everybody what I had to say. You can try to make excuses, but there's no excuses. It just won't happen again.''

Romanowski also apologized to the rest of the team prior to Tuesday's practice. Afterward, some Raiders players seemed almost indifferent toward the matter.

"I don't see it as a big problem,'' linebacker Eric Johnson said. "It's just something that happened. Bill is a part of the family, and so is Marcus. Brothers fight all the time.''

NFL spokeswoman Leslie Hammond said the league won't get involved in what it considers a team matter, leaving any discipline to the Raiders.

Romanowski has a history of on-field altercations during his 16-year NFL career -- most notably for spitting on 49ers receiver J.J. Stokes. He has been fined several times by the league.

He has had off-field troubles as well. Romanowski was acquitted in July 2001 on charges of illegally obtaining a prescription diet drug in 1998, and related charges against his wife, Julie, also were dropped.

He signed with Oakland before last season, and he finished second on the team in tackles while helping the Raiders to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1983. His influence on Oakland's defense has been praised, and he hadn't been in any trouble with the Raiders until this incident.

"Everybody knew what they were getting when he (Romanowski) came here,'' guard Frank Middleton said. "As long as it doesn't happen again, it'll be fine.''

Romanowski, who spoke with coach Bill Callahan on Monday night, denied having an anger problem.

"I've never really had problems controlling my temper,'' Romanowski said. "I am an intense guy on the football field, and sometimes I get carried away. I got carried away two days ago. I'm just going to make the situation right from this point forward. Can I move forward? I have no choice.

"The punishment is not about a fine or about missing practice. It's about what you learn as a person. You've got to look at yourself in the mirror and say, 'I screwed up.' There's two reasons I play this game: One is my love and respect I have for the game, two is to win the Super Bowl, and I can't do it without (teammates). I let my teammates down, and I apologized to them.''

Callahan didn't speak to reporters Tuesday, even though the Raiders made several cuts and roster moves.

THE PLAYER SHOULD SUE ROMANOWSKI FOR EVERY CENT HE HAS

[JCT777]

Bill Romanowski has always been a hyper guy, but this time he went too far. It is a terrible shame that a young player's season, and possibly his career, is over because Romanowski could not control his temper.

[azsnowman]

More evidence why I don't care for pro sports anymore! The only pro sport I care about is golf......have you ever heard of anyone on the PGA Tour locked up over drugs, violence...have you heard them *stay away* from training camp to hold out from more money or threaten to strike for more money???

Dennis

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i hope bill gets both his knees blown out in the 1st game tis season

[WXBUFFJIM]

He's very hyper, but why did he fight in the first place?? You're talking about ending a pro players career and as far as it happening again, that's anyones guess. I would call it a 50/50 there.

It's a shame these kinds of fights have to happen in football in general!!!

Jim

[streetsoldier]

It seems to go with that game...I've seen this happen in "Pop Warner" football, junior high, senior high, college and professional ball.

[flightpath]

More evidence why I don't care for pro sports anymore! The only pro sport I care about is golf......have you ever heard of anyone on the PGA Tour locked up over drugs, violence...have you heard them *stay away* from training camp to hold out from more money or threaten to strike for more money???

Dennis

Golf is not immune from any of the pitfalls of mainstream society either.
This story may interest you http://www.suntimes.com/output/couch/cs ... eg031.html

Football players fight all the time- it's really no big deal, just this time because eyesocket gets fractured everyone starts whining. I guarantee that Romo is held in high regard by those football players who are on his team- it's other teams/fans that hate him.

[blizzard]

Golf is not immune from any of the pitfalls of mainstream society either.

Yeah, just watch happy Gilmore, Bob sure made a mess of happy....lol

[hunter84]

I think I remember a few years ago some of the top golfers were talking about skipping the Ryder Cup because of the lack of money paid to them for playing.

[Johnny]

This kind of stuff happens in football all the tim BUT Bill Romanowski is a disgrace to football. I mean come on, this isn't his first, second or third go around doing this type of thing. He has been fined over $75,000 througout his carreer because of his actions. What a role model.