Autopsy: White may have died of respiratory disease

Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004 | 9:11 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NFL great Reggie White may have died because of a respiratory disease combined with other health problems, a preliminary autopsy report said Monday.

White most likely had a condition that affected the amount of air his lungs could hold, resulting in "fatal cardiac arrhythmia," said Dr. Mike Sullivan, the medical examiner for Mecklenburg County and a forensic pathologist.

The report issued by Sullivan's office also said sleep apnea may have been a factor.

The report is a preliminary one; determining a final cause of death could take up to three months, Sullivan's office said.

White died Sunday at Presbyterian Hospital in Huntersville after being taken there from his home in nearby Cornelius. His wife, Sara, called 911.

Officials wiped out Berrian's 43-yard, game-tying TD reception with 1:26 left Sunday, calling it an incomple pass even though replays showed it was a good catch. The Bears went on to lose 19-13 to the Detroit Lions, their fifth loss in six games.

"I saw, and with my great vision that I have, two feet in with possession as he went down," Smith said Monday. "That's what I think I saw. That's what I think a lot of Bears fans saw. I still say the same thing."

With his Atlanta Falcons unable to affect their standing as the NFC's No. 2 seed last week, Mora decided Vick, tight end Alge Crumpler, nose tackle Ed Jasper and cornerback Jason Webster wouldn't play at New Orleans.

And despite two more injuries -- quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's sore ribs and cornerback Deshea Townsend's broken hand -- the Steelers promise there will be no letting up Sunday at Buffalo (9-6), even though they have little to gain by winning.

"We are playing too well to go up there and not win that football game," Cowher said. "It's not so much the record (15-1) as much as it is that we keep playing well."

Coach Marvin Lewis said Monday that the club hasn't decided whether to put Perry on injured reserve and add another player to the 53-man roster.

The Vikings have lost six of their last nine games, but at 8-7 still have a shot at the playoffs.

"Although our expectation of winning the division was not met, we feel that the program Mike Tice has guided gives us the talent base to have to success today and in the future," McCombs said in a statement. "Our expectations are high for the upcoming playoffs and for next year."

Pryce had back surgery shortly after that game and has been on a long rehabilitation, trying to regain strength in his legs. He said he felt good in pass-rush drills last week, which made him think he could come back this week and play at about 75 percent effectiveness.

"It's not going to be something where I'm back to what I was before I hurt it," Pryce said. "But if I can go in and draw some attention off Reggie" Hayward and some other teammates, he feels he'll be doing his job.