Former Browns WR Joe Jurevicius, who returned to Cleveland in 2006 to try to help his beloved Browns win a Super Bowl, is suing the team, the Cleveland Clinic and two team physicians over a staph infection that most likely has ended his NFL career.
Browns attorney Fred Nance said in a statement the Browns "deny the allegations and will vigorously defend against them." The Clinic, through spokesperson Erinne Dyer, declined to comment on pending litigation.
Jurevicius, who sat out all last season because of the staph infection, underwent routine arthroscopic surgery on the knee Jan. 7, 2008, and spent about a week-and-a-half rehabilitating at the Browns' facility. On Jan. 21, after experiencing swelling in the knee, severe shaking and chills, he was diagnosed with staph.
Since then, Jurevicius has undergone 6 medical procedures on the knee to eradicate the infection and repair the damage. The Browns released him March 12 despite the fact he offered to take a pay cut to remain with the team. He's currently out of football.
Jurevicius, 34, is the first of 6 known Browns players diagnosed with staph infections since 2003 to file a lawsuit. One of those, former Browns TE Kellen Winslow, contracted staph twice, once in 2005 and once last season.
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