HARBAUGH-KELLY MYSTERY GROWS: PUNCH OR NO?

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Exactly how did Jim Harbaugh break his hand?

The Indianapolis Colts quarterback says he injured himself slugging former Buffalo Bills QB Jim Kelly, now a broadcaster, but Kelly said Tuesday that it never happened.

``I don't know how he hurt himself, since I never saw a punch and certainly did not get hit,'' Kelly, in a statement, said of a confrontation that occurred Saturday night at the Colts' hotel in San Diego.

Kelly's statement continued: ``But we spoke at length before the game on Sunday morning, talked everything out, ended on a positive note and put it behind us. This is a matter between the two of us, and we consider it over.''

Harbaugh was upset that Kelly, on a Buffalo TV show, recently called him a ``baby'' who ``overdramatized'' his injuries.

Bills lose Spielman: Buffalo linebacker Chris Spielman will miss the remainder of the season with a herniated disc in his neck, an injury that could threaten his 10-year career.

Spielman was placed on the injured-reserve list two days after he played a full game in the Bills' 23-20 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos. He would not comment.

Kicking the tires: Wayne Huizenga's Republic Industries Inc. announced an agreement to buy Broncos quarterback John Elway's Denver automobile dealerships for $82.5 million in stock.

The dealerships are controlled and managed by Elway and partner Rod Buscher.

Huizenga owns baseball's Florida Marlins and football's Miami Dolphins.

Bitter pill: Miami coach Jimmy Johnson won't soon forget Monday's 36-33 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears.

The Dolphins had four turnovers and allowed four sacks of quarterback Dan Marino, matching their totals for the first seven games. They also had 13 penalties for 83 yards - nine of them on the offensive line - more than double the team's average.

``We don't have enough healthy playmakers on the field to win ugly,'' Johnson said. ``If we're going to win, we're going to have to be pretty close to the top of our game. We just don't have enough playmakers to overcome turnovers, penalties or pass-protection mistakes.''

He added of the Dolphins: ``It goes back to human nature. You have success. You become complacent. You have adversity. You ride the roller coaster. We won three in a row had adversity and have to work hard to achieve success again.''

Plummer hangs on: Jake Plummer will get his second chance to start at quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. He will face the Philadelphia Eagles.

Coach Vince Tobin said he will again start the rookie quarterback at Sun Devil Stadium despite the Cardinals' (1-7) loss to the Tennessee Oilers this past week.

Behind Plummer on the depth chart is Kent Graham, who is still limping on an ankle he sprained Oct. 12. The third-string quarterback is Stoney Case, who was ineffective in the first 50 minutes of play at Philadelphia on Oct. 19.

``If we get into a situation where things aren't going well for Jake, I won't hesitate to put Kent in once he becomes healthy,'' Tobin said. ``I don't want Jake to get into a position where he can't be successful.''

Minnesota air needs clearing: Three Minnesota Vikings owners who have been critical of coach Dennis Green for writing his controversial autobiography said they want him to make a public statement immediately, explaining why he wrote the book.

Green is scheduled to meet with reporters today, and the three owners - board of directors chairman John Skoglund, vice chairman Philip Maas and Wheelock Whitney - said Green could help diffuse the situation by giving his explanation, although they are not demanding an apology.

``The sooner the better,'' Whitney said. ``We'd like to get this behind us and get on with the second half of the season.''

In his book, ``No Room for Crybabies,'' Green criticized the owners and proposed several scenarios on how to solve the team's ownership situation.

In the final chapter, Green laid out a plan in which he would buy the team by threatening to sue two unidentified owners who last year attempted to replace Green with former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz. The final chapter includes a lawsuit, financing plan and a stock purchase agreement.

Also: Former Baltimore Ravens cornerback Dorian Brew had a workout with the San Diego Chargers and likely will be signed today. He will replace Mark Montreuil, who will miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his right knee in Sunday's 35-19 win against Indianapolis. . . . Defensive tackle Chris Zorich, the Chicago Bears' second-round pick in 1991 and a player known for charity work in the area, was waived. Zorich, 28, underwent thumb surgery in August and had played in only three games this season, making just two tackles. . . . The St. Louis Rams activated rookie offensive lineman Ryan Tucker from the physically unable to perform list and plan to play him Sunday at Atlanta. The Rams found room for him on the 53-man roster at their most overstocked position, releasing running back Ron Moore.

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Photo

Photo: Dolphins QB Dan Marino had a rough time against the Chicago Bears _ this was one of four sacks.

Associated Press