Romanowski Denies Making Slur

Denver Bronco linebacker Bill Romanowski responded angrily Wednesday to a Sports Illustrated article, calling allegations that he made racist remarks “an absolute lie.”

One of his attorneys described the article as “terrible, baseless journalism.”

The magazine reported that Romanowski, already under indictment on charges of fraudulently obtaining a diet drug, may have distributed drugs to teammates and suggested that a white teammate take the drug as the only way to compete with black players.

The unidentified teammate told the magazine that Romanowski used a racial slur.

Sports Illustrated spokesman Joe Assad said the magazine had no reason to question its account. “We stand by our story, we’re confident in our reporting and our sources,” Assad said.

Romanowski addressed his teammates during a team meeting Wednesday morning. Later, at an emotional news conference at which he appeared near tears in contrast to his tough-guy image, Romanowski shared his message.

“I told them that I had had a relationship with someone I considered a friend, and for reasons that I will not get into, the friendship went sour,” he said. “And, for some reason I don’t know, that person went and told Sports Illustrated something that I supposedly said to him.

“I told my teammates that is an absolute lie. I did not make the statement that they quoted me as saying in Sports Illustrated.”

Three people close to the situation, including one of Romanowski’s teammates, told the Denver Post they know the informant to be Martin Harrison, a former teammate of Romanowski’s with the San Francisco 49ers who was in the Broncos’ camp in 1998. Harrison was identified in the Sports Illustrated article as having given prosecutors a written statement saying Romanowski had offered him pills as pregame stimulants.

The magazine reported that two teammates told investigators that Romanowski offered stimulants to them before games.

Romanowski was indicted last week on four felony counts accusing him of using diet drugs prescribed for his wife and a friend. Previously, his wife, Julie, and three others were charged in the case. Some doctors believe the drug, called Phentermine, helps athletes by speeding up their metabolism. Romanowski is due to appear in court Aug. 28.

Julie Romanowski faces eight counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance and conspiracy. Her scheduled arraignment was postponed until Oct. 5.

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With tendinitis in his throwing arm still lingering, quarterback Brett Favre said he “easily could be” sidelined for the Green Bay Packers’ last two exhibition games.

Favre, who hasn’t practiced in a week, said it was too soon to tell whether his streak of 125 consecutive regular-season starts--longest in NFL history by a quarterback--is in jeopardy.

“I’ve played a long time, and I’ve been fortunate not to have injuries,” said the three-time league most valuable player, an ice pack wrapped around his right arm. “This isn’t something I’m used to, but it’s part of the game. I’d much rather be out practicing with the teammates, but I guess it had to come some time. I’m just trying to deal with it.”

The Packers open the season Sept. 3 against the New York Jets at Green Bay, Wis.

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The Cleveland Browns placed backup quarterback Ty Detmer on the injured reserve list, meaning that he’ll sit out the season.

Detmer, 32, suffered a ruptured right Achilles’ tendon as he was scrambling to avoid a sack in Saturday’s 19-6 exhibition loss to the Chicago Bears. He underwent surgery Monday.

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Former first-round draft pick Jim Druckenmiller was waived by Miami after losing a battle with journeyman Mike Quinn for a job as the team’s third quarterback.

Druckenmiller, 27, hasn’t thrown a pass in a regular-season game since 1997, his rookie season with the 49ers. He was taken with the 26th pick in the draft that year by the 49ers, then traded in September 1999 to the Miami Dolphins for a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft.

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Wide receiver Vincent Brisby, waived Monday after seven seasons with New England, signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets. . . . Jacksonville acquired offensive guard Brenden Stai from Kansas City in a trade for an undisclosed draft choice. . . . The Broncos waived offensive guard Rod Milstead. Milstead, 30, played in six games with Washington last season. . . . San Diego linebacker Junior Seau will sit out Friday night’s exhibition game at Atlanta because of a dislocated finger on his left hand.