ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- Oakland Raiders linebacker Bill
Romanowski is recovering from his latest concussion, but says he
needs to seek further medical advice before deciding if it's time
for him to retire.
Romanowski's streak of 243 consecutive games played ended last
Sunday when he sat out the Raiders 34-31 overtime win over San
Diego while recovering from the effects of his injury. He said he
is consulting specialists from around the country to determine if
he can return to the game.
``Ultimately it's up to me,'' Romanowski said Wednesday.
``There's a lot of unknowns when it comes to this. I just don't
know at this point.''
Romanowski is one of the most successful and vilified players in
the NFL today, a four-time Super Bowl winner who has been fined by
the league numerous times throughout his career for various
offenses.
On Aug. 24 of this year, Romanowski broke the eye socket of
teammate Marcus Williams during a fight in practice and was
subsequently tagged with an $88,000 fine by the Raiders.
Yet the man who has gone toe-to-toe with some of the game's
biggest and toughest players now finds his career at a standstill
while doctors determine whether it's physically safe for him to
continue playing.
``I'm definitely better as far as when I'm walking around and
doing things,'' Romanowski said. ``When I'm working out I get some
symptoms, which is pretty normal. That's what the trainers told me.
So I'm just going to take it one day at a time.''
Romanowski is listed as doubtful to play in the Raiders' game
Sunday in Chicago. But barring a miracle, he will be standing on
the sidelines in street clothes just like he was last week when
Oakland hosted San Diego.
It was the first time in his 16-year NFL career that Romanowski
did not play in a regular-season game, ending a streak that was the
fifth-longest among active players.
Sixth-year man Travian Smith started against San Diego in
Romanowski's place for the Raiders and tied for third on the team
with eight tackles. He is slated to start this week against the
Bears as well.
Oakland also signed linebacker Tim Johnson to its 53-man roster,
releasing safety Siddeeq Shabazz to make room for him. Shabazz was
later claimed by the Atlanta Falcons.
Romanowski, 37, told reporters Wednesday that he suffered a
concussion during training camp this past summer and then another
in the Raiders' season-opening loss to Tennessee. Though he played
the following week against Cincinnati, he aggravated the injury
Sept. 22 while playing against Denver.
``In this business you learn how to trick yourself and lie real
well because you always have to be ready for the next play, be
ready for the next game,'' Romanowski said. ``The last few weeks
I've been more honest with myself. That's when you start going back
over different things, the different personality changes.''
Romanowski estimated he has had over 10 concussions in his
career. He also said he plans to speak with former players such as
Steve Young and Troy Aikman, both of whom retired after suffering
multiple concussions.
``I'm hoping for the best, that he continues to play and we get
the situation rectified,'' said Oakland head coach Bill Callahan.
Jerry Rice, Romanowski's teammate in Oakland, suffered a
concussion earlier in his career and said that Romanowski faces a
tough decision in the coming weeks.
``Anytime in a situation like that it's your life,'' Rice said.
``Football's been really good to him. I don't know what's going to
happen down the line .. but if things don't change I'm sure he's
going to choose to step away from it. It's hard. I had an
opportunity to talk to him and I think he's dealing with the
situation well. He knows he has a lot more to look forward to.''
Romanowski said that if he does indeed retire he will do so with
no regrets.
``I just have to weigh it out,'' Romanowski said. ``I think I'll
take everything into account. The cup with me is always half full.
If I have to walk away I've given then game all I've got. When I
took the field, I left it on the field.
``I knew in time it was going to end ... but I don't think I
ever realized it would necessarily be right now or any time soon,''
he said. ``I still thought I could just play three or four more
(years). That's changing a little bit here, but I still don't
know.''
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)