National Football League
AFC Standings |
NFC Standings |
Schedule |
Scoreboard |
Scores - Previous
Former Browns RB Rhett sues team doctor
Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Former Cleveland Browns running back Errict
Rhett is suing a team doctor and the Cleveland clinic after what he feels was
a misdiagnosis of a foot injury that ended his career.
As a member of the Browns in 2000, Rhett suffered a broken foot against the
Baltimore Ravens. He then had surgery and tried to make a return in 2001.
John Bergfeld, a team doctor affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic, did not
perform the surgery but cleared Rhett to play in July 2001. Rhett was cut two
days later and has not played since.
Rhett argued in a lawsuit filed on Tuesday that his foot was not completely
healed. Rhett believed he needed at least two more months to recover. The
lawsuit seeks at least $25,000 in damages.
League rules require teams to pay players who are on injured reserve. They
cannot be cut until they return to active status.
Rhett's suit charges that Bergfeld cleared him to play so Cleveland could cut
him. Rhett noted other doctors who examined his foot said he should not have
been cleared to play.
The Florida product had rushed for 4,143 yards and 29 touchdowns on 1,174
carries in 85 career games. Rhett also caught 89 passes for 552 yards and
three TDs. He also played for Tampa Bay and Baltimore.
01/16 17:45:45 ET
powered by The Sports Network
|