October 2, 2003

By Jason Cole, The Miami Herald

For a team with a series of staph infections running through the building, the Dolphins appear to be taking a rather low-key approach toward alerting players of the dangers.  And most players are taking the threat with a certain sense of humor.

''We're keeping all those guys in a separate locker room,'' defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said, jokingly referring to the half-dozen players who have been afflicted by a severe form of staph infections. ''I haven't heard anything about it or what we're supposed to do.''

Said defensive tackle Larry Chester: ''They haven't told us anything. All I know is what I've read.''  That comes despite the NFL sending a warning to each team regarding the possibility of infections. League spokesman Joe Browne confirmed the teams were notified by memo earlier this season.

''I haven't had any concern over it,'' quarterback Jay Fiedler said. ''I've seen a couple of guys that have had the infection. Whether it was the same thing on all those guys, I'm not so sure.''

By the rough count of several players, about eight Dolphins have been struck by the staph infection, which might be a serious form caused by bacteria that doesn't respond to normal antibiotics. That includes linebacker Corey Jenkins, running back Travis Minor, former linebacker Justin Seaverns and former running back Robert Edwards.

TRIPS TO HOSPITAL

The cases seem to be growing in significance. Linebacker Junior Seau was hospitalized over the weekend in San Diego, and return man Charlie Rogers was hospitalized for two days before the team's game against Buffalo on Sept. 21. Rogers even made the team's injury report as probable and wasn't discharged from the hospital until the afternoon of the game.  Seau is not on the injury report this week and said he is fine to play Sunday against the New York Giants.

The team has had to take some precautions as a result, such as cleaning out the team hot tub with disinfectant.

Team trainer Kevin O'Neill declined to discuss the run of infections, but there has been a trend of such infections running through NFL and college teams recently, prompting the NFL warning.  Coach Dave Wannstedt said the medical and training staff was ''on top of it'' but gave no other specifics.

The players, however, say they haven't received specifics. ''No, nothing,'' defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina said. ''Basically, you have an open wound, stay away.''

Of course, staying away from open wounds in football is like trying to keep ink off your hands while working with a printing press.  Jenkins said he got an infection after suffering a skinned arm during the exhibition game at New Orleans on Aug. 28.  ''I thought it was just a pimple at first, but then it really started to hurt,'' he said. ''Draining those things really hurt.''

'NO JOKE'

''There's a couple of guys that have had it and had to deal with it,'' defensive end Jason Taylor said. ''It's no fun. You have to go through a lot to get rid of it.

''It could be serious. A staph infection is no joke. It needs to get cleaned up.'' Rogers said he had boils on his arm that became extremely tender. When the first antibiotics he was given didn't get rid of it, he had to go to the hospital for tests to determine what would work.

That's consistent with a type of staph infection known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The NFL sent out a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about MRSA to all the NFL teams.

Dr. Sean Kenniff, the health reporter and producer for WFOR-Channel 4, said MRSA and other types of infections from such resilient bacteria are normally found only in hospitals. It is there that bacteria can evolve to become more resistant to antibiotics.

''However, we're seeing an increase in such infections in the general public, and this is a significant concern to see it in places like this,'' Kenniff said.