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Source: Robbins checked into hospital
ESPN.com news services
SAN DIEGO -- The Oakland Raiders held All-Pro center Barret Robbins out of the Super Bowl today after the veteran missed all of the team's activities Saturday.
A source told ESPN's Ed Werder that Robbins has checked into a hospital in San Diego, where he has undergone tests that show no illegal drugs in his system. The source said that further tests will be conducted.
Raiders officials had confirmed to Andrea Kremer on ABC's pre-game Super Bowl show that Robbins is receiving medical treatment in the San Diego area.
When contacted for confirmation by ESPN, Robbins' agent, Drew Pittman, said: "My comment is that I have no comment."
According to a spokeswoman for the five Scripps hospitals in the San Diego area, including one in LaJolla, where the Raiders are staying, Robbins is not and has not been a patient. And a check of all local hospitals by ESPN did not find Robbins checked in as a patient.
The Scripps spokeswoman, Marg Stark, said there was a medical and emergency plan in place by the NFL to treat players who needed medical attention but did not require hospitalization. These players were to be treated by NFL medical personnel. She said that most likely Robbins was receiving medical treatment under that previously arranged procedure.
Robbins was not with the Raiders for their walk-through Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium. The Raiders' first contact Saturday with Robbins, whose whereabouts that day are not known, was at 8 p.m. PT, shortly before their 8:45 final team meeting. Robbins was told not to attend the meeting.
All coach Bill Callahan told the team during the Saturday night meeting was that Adam Treu would start at center against Tampa Bay and added to his players that "no one is bigger than the team." (emphasis added)
Callahan gave no further details to his team.
Raiders owner Al Davis declined comment, saying, "Let's play the game.''
Robbins, who has been bothered by a foot injury for much of the season, had been questionable against the Bucs.
Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski, interviewed by ABC's Melissa Stark on Sunday, was asked whether the change at center was a distraction to the team. "It really isn't," he said, declining further comment. Raiders players were just finding out this morning that Robbins had been sent home and wouldn't play.
When asked about Robbins missing the game, Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks said: "We don't prepare for individuals. We prepare for a team. We don't take backup players lightly. Their job is to come in and play as well as the starter. And we expect that."
Robbins, a 6-foot-3, 320-pound player in his eighth season, was expected to help contain Tampa Bay's formidable defensive front, led by All-Pro tackle Warren Sapp. Robbins anchors a line that gave league MVP Rich Gannon enough time to throw for 4,689 yards and direct the NFL's most potent offense.
Robbins was selected to his first Pro Bowl this season, joining tackle Lincoln Kennedy on the team.
Robbins broke into the Raiders' starting lineup in 1996. He injured his right knee last season and missed the final 14 games. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Treu took his place.
At the 1989 Super Bowl, fullback Stanley Wilson of the Cincinnati Bengals was found in his Miami hotel room in a cocaine-induced stupor the night before the game. He did not play, and Cincinnati lost to San Francisco, 20-16.
Ten years later, safety Eugene Robinson of Atlanta was arrested less than 24 hours before the Super Bowl for solicitation of prostitution. He played, and was beaten on a touchdown pass by John Elway as the Falcons lost to the Broncos, 34-19.
------------------
There's also this damning comment from one of his linemates:
Robbins' absence felt by Raiders
Associated Press
<snip>
"If somebody chooses to do something wrong, nobody can tell them what to do,'' guard Frank Middleton said. "We have to go with the guys who want to be here. ... My concern is not B-Robb. He's safe, and he paid the price for what he did. I haven't talked to him, and I don't know if I'm going to talk to him.''
<snip>
-------------------
So it is known that Robbins was absent from all Raiders activities on Saturday, and that his explanation for his leave was unsatisfactory to coach Bill Callahan. It also seems that he was receiving outpatient medical treatment.
The natural conjecture (not an established fact) is that his leave was substance-abuse-related.
ESPN.com news services
SAN DIEGO -- The Oakland Raiders held All-Pro center Barret Robbins out of the Super Bowl today after the veteran missed all of the team's activities Saturday.
A source told ESPN's Ed Werder that Robbins has checked into a hospital in San Diego, where he has undergone tests that show no illegal drugs in his system. The source said that further tests will be conducted.
Raiders officials had confirmed to Andrea Kremer on ABC's pre-game Super Bowl show that Robbins is receiving medical treatment in the San Diego area.
When contacted for confirmation by ESPN, Robbins' agent, Drew Pittman, said: "My comment is that I have no comment."
According to a spokeswoman for the five Scripps hospitals in the San Diego area, including one in LaJolla, where the Raiders are staying, Robbins is not and has not been a patient. And a check of all local hospitals by ESPN did not find Robbins checked in as a patient.
The Scripps spokeswoman, Marg Stark, said there was a medical and emergency plan in place by the NFL to treat players who needed medical attention but did not require hospitalization. These players were to be treated by NFL medical personnel. She said that most likely Robbins was receiving medical treatment under that previously arranged procedure.
Robbins was not with the Raiders for their walk-through Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium. The Raiders' first contact Saturday with Robbins, whose whereabouts that day are not known, was at 8 p.m. PT, shortly before their 8:45 final team meeting. Robbins was told not to attend the meeting.
All coach Bill Callahan told the team during the Saturday night meeting was that Adam Treu would start at center against Tampa Bay and added to his players that "no one is bigger than the team." (emphasis added)
Callahan gave no further details to his team.
Raiders owner Al Davis declined comment, saying, "Let's play the game.''
Robbins, who has been bothered by a foot injury for much of the season, had been questionable against the Bucs.
Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski, interviewed by ABC's Melissa Stark on Sunday, was asked whether the change at center was a distraction to the team. "It really isn't," he said, declining further comment. Raiders players were just finding out this morning that Robbins had been sent home and wouldn't play.
When asked about Robbins missing the game, Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks said: "We don't prepare for individuals. We prepare for a team. We don't take backup players lightly. Their job is to come in and play as well as the starter. And we expect that."
Robbins, a 6-foot-3, 320-pound player in his eighth season, was expected to help contain Tampa Bay's formidable defensive front, led by All-Pro tackle Warren Sapp. Robbins anchors a line that gave league MVP Rich Gannon enough time to throw for 4,689 yards and direct the NFL's most potent offense.
Robbins was selected to his first Pro Bowl this season, joining tackle Lincoln Kennedy on the team.
Robbins broke into the Raiders' starting lineup in 1996. He injured his right knee last season and missed the final 14 games. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Treu took his place.
At the 1989 Super Bowl, fullback Stanley Wilson of the Cincinnati Bengals was found in his Miami hotel room in a cocaine-induced stupor the night before the game. He did not play, and Cincinnati lost to San Francisco, 20-16.
Ten years later, safety Eugene Robinson of Atlanta was arrested less than 24 hours before the Super Bowl for solicitation of prostitution. He played, and was beaten on a touchdown pass by John Elway as the Falcons lost to the Broncos, 34-19.
------------------
There's also this damning comment from one of his linemates:
Robbins' absence felt by Raiders
Associated Press
<snip>
"If somebody chooses to do something wrong, nobody can tell them what to do,'' guard Frank Middleton said. "We have to go with the guys who want to be here. ... My concern is not B-Robb. He's safe, and he paid the price for what he did. I haven't talked to him, and I don't know if I'm going to talk to him.''
<snip>
-------------------
So it is known that Robbins was absent from all Raiders activities on Saturday, and that his explanation for his leave was unsatisfactory to coach Bill Callahan. It also seems that he was receiving outpatient medical treatment.
The natural conjecture (not an established fact) is that his leave was substance-abuse-related.
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