FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-44                   10/15/99

BRONCOS FINED $25,000 FOR VIOLATING

INJURY REPORT PROCEDURES

The Denver Broncos have been fined $25,000 for violating NFL policy on the reporting of injuries, the NFL announced today.

NFL Executive Vice President Jeffrey Pash issued the fine.

Broncos starting quarterback Bubby Brister suffered a hip injury last Friday in practice prior to the team’s Sunday game against Oakland. The injury occurred after the Broncos had submitted their official personnel reports to the NFL office on Wednesday and Thursday.

Under league rules, if a player suffers an injury after the Thursday report is submitted, the team is obligated to announce the injury as soon as possible to its local media, The Associated Press, and the televising network of its game that week. In addition, the club is to notify the league office and the opposing team. The policy directs clubs to pay particular attention to key players such as quarterbacks.

The Broncos failed to make a timely and full disclosure of Brister’s injury as required by the policy, Pash said, because they did not notify local Denver media, The Associated Press or CBS on Friday or Saturday. The Broncos simply left messages for the league office and the Raiders on Saturday about Brister’s injury.

Brister did not play against Oakland. He is listed this week as questionable with a hip injury.