Bronco_Beerslug
11-17-2005, 07:41 AM
Got to be careful that those Bar-B-Cues don't get out of hand.
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LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The FBI is opening an internal investigation into the fight between Chicago Bears offensive linemen Olin Kreutz and Fred Miller at its shooting range in the Chicago area, Special Agent Richard Kolko said Wednesday.
http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/nfl/2005/1116/photo/g_kreutz_195.jpg
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Kreutz (pictured) and Miller say they have put the incident at the shooting range behind them.
Miller, who initially said the injury occurred in a fall at home, needed surgery after Kreutz broke his jaw in the altercation last week.
An FBI official said several Bears were invited to take target practice. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the internal investigation, said it is common for FBI field offices to invite community groups to shooting ranges.
The official said the fight took place after the shooting session, during a barbecue for FBI employees and the players. He confirmed that alcohol was consumed during the barbecue, but insisted there was no drinking during the target practice.
Reports of an altercation surfaced after last Sunday's 17-9 victory over San Francisco, and details have continued to leak.
The Chicago Sun-Times, citing sources, reported roughhousing between Miller and Kreutz escalated to a full-blown altercation. As he was being escorted out the door, Miller turned around and went toward Kreutz, the newspaper reported. Kreutz then hit him in the face and Miller responded by striking Kreutz in the head with a five-pound weight, opening a cut that required 13 stitches.
Coach Lovie Smith told reporters on Monday he was not aware of the incident until last weekend. He also said then that neither player would be suspended, but intimated they would be fined.
Both players' agents said Wednesday night neither the Bears nor the NFL had taken disciplinary action.
"If we get a fine from the league, we'll work it out with the league," said Harold Lewis, who represents Miller. "If we get a fine from the Bears, we'll work it out with the Bears."
Kreutz's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said, "Once they have all the facts, we'll have a decision to make."
And Smith said, "We'll handle it within, and that's really all I'm going to [say] about it. Teamwise, we're looking at Carolina right now."
Smith said the Bears "have had a great relationship" with the FBI and added: "Those circumstances that happened didn't have much to do with them. The guys that were involved in it, they're paying a price right now."
General manager Jerry Angelo was not available for comment.
"I think you guys care about this more than we do," Miller said to reporters.
After practicing for the first time since the incident, Miller put the odds of playing this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers at 50-50.
"I just had to watch what I was doing, make sure I didn't get in too much contact and get an elbow or something like that," he said.
The broken jaw knocked Miller, one of the key offseason acquisitions, out of the 49ers game and ended a run of 110 straight starts dating back to 1998.
Although he said he's "feeling pretty good," Miller had some difficulty talking, and his bottom lip was black and blue. He said he won't be able to eat solid food for another week and has lost 15 pounds. For now, his diet consists of soup and energy drinks.
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http://tinyurl.com/dnrrv
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LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The FBI is opening an internal investigation into the fight between Chicago Bears offensive linemen Olin Kreutz and Fred Miller at its shooting range in the Chicago area, Special Agent Richard Kolko said Wednesday.
http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/nfl/2005/1116/photo/g_kreutz_195.jpg
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Kreutz (pictured) and Miller say they have put the incident at the shooting range behind them.
Miller, who initially said the injury occurred in a fall at home, needed surgery after Kreutz broke his jaw in the altercation last week.
An FBI official said several Bears were invited to take target practice. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the internal investigation, said it is common for FBI field offices to invite community groups to shooting ranges.
The official said the fight took place after the shooting session, during a barbecue for FBI employees and the players. He confirmed that alcohol was consumed during the barbecue, but insisted there was no drinking during the target practice.
Reports of an altercation surfaced after last Sunday's 17-9 victory over San Francisco, and details have continued to leak.
The Chicago Sun-Times, citing sources, reported roughhousing between Miller and Kreutz escalated to a full-blown altercation. As he was being escorted out the door, Miller turned around and went toward Kreutz, the newspaper reported. Kreutz then hit him in the face and Miller responded by striking Kreutz in the head with a five-pound weight, opening a cut that required 13 stitches.
Coach Lovie Smith told reporters on Monday he was not aware of the incident until last weekend. He also said then that neither player would be suspended, but intimated they would be fined.
Both players' agents said Wednesday night neither the Bears nor the NFL had taken disciplinary action.
"If we get a fine from the league, we'll work it out with the league," said Harold Lewis, who represents Miller. "If we get a fine from the Bears, we'll work it out with the Bears."
Kreutz's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said, "Once they have all the facts, we'll have a decision to make."
And Smith said, "We'll handle it within, and that's really all I'm going to [say] about it. Teamwise, we're looking at Carolina right now."
Smith said the Bears "have had a great relationship" with the FBI and added: "Those circumstances that happened didn't have much to do with them. The guys that were involved in it, they're paying a price right now."
General manager Jerry Angelo was not available for comment.
"I think you guys care about this more than we do," Miller said to reporters.
After practicing for the first time since the incident, Miller put the odds of playing this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers at 50-50.
"I just had to watch what I was doing, make sure I didn't get in too much contact and get an elbow or something like that," he said.
The broken jaw knocked Miller, one of the key offseason acquisitions, out of the 49ers game and ended a run of 110 straight starts dating back to 1998.
Although he said he's "feeling pretty good," Miller had some difficulty talking, and his bottom lip was black and blue. He said he won't be able to eat solid food for another week and has lost 15 pounds. For now, his diet consists of soup and energy drinks.
(CONTINUED)
http://tinyurl.com/dnrrv