NFL NOTES : EX-STEELERS STAR MANSFIELD DIES.

Byline: Associated Press 

The body of former Pittsburgh Steelers center Ray Mansfield was removed from the Grand Canyon by helicopter Monday, two days after he died while hiking.

The National Park Service said the 55-year-old Mansfield likely died of natural causes Saturday, the first day of a four-day hiking trip along the canyon's south rim.

Mansfield played on two Super Bowl teams, and his love of the outdoors earned him the nickname ``Ranger.''

``He was an adventurer,'' said former Steelers lineman John Banaszak, who once joined Mansfield in a climb up Colorado's Mount Princeton. ``That was his element. That was his form of competition . r recreation and relaxation.''

Mansfield was apparently hiking with his son Jim and a friend, and had lagged behind.

When Mansfield didn't arrive at the campsite by Sunday morning, the other men went back to find him.

``It's not unreasonable that they waited, due to the rugged trail and darkness,'' said Park Service spokeswoman Mallory Smith, noting the men were on back country trip and hiking off the main trails.

By the time the two reached Mansfield, he had no pulse and wasn't breathing.

Brumfield improving: In Baltimore, Scott Brumfield is regaining strength and motion in his legs and the Cincinnati Bengals lineman could return home this week.

However, his doctor said it is too early to tell if the 26-year-old guard would ever play football again.

``We're guardedly optimistic about his prognosis,'' said Andrew Pollak, an orthopedic trauma surgeon at the University of Maryland's Shock Trauma Center.

Brumfield suffered a concussion of the spinal cord in his neck during Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Cox sidelined for season: Bryan Cox underwent surgery on his broken thumb, and Chicago Bears coach Dave Wannstedt said the linebacker will miss the rest of the season.

The Bears had hoped Cox, who played in Sunday's 13-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite his injury, would be back in a few weeks.

``I just found out about this a half-hour ago,'' Wannstedt said. ``The pins are going to be in for six weeks, so he will not play again this season.''

Wannstedt said Cox's insistence on playing Sunday did not worsen the situation and said Cox should be fine by next training camp.

Rams coach unhappy: A day after the St. Louis Rams absorbed one of the worst losses in franchise history, coach Rich Brooks accused players of giving up.

``As I told the team this morning, if they can put on the tape and look me in the eye and tell me they played as well as they're capable of playing, then I must be looking at some different film,'' Brooks said.

Manley out on parole: Former Washington Redskins star Dexter Manley walked out of prison in Huntsville, Texas, and hopped into a black Mercedes, freed on parole after serving nearly 15 months of a four-year term for cocaine possession.

49ers stadium: A large majority of San Francisco voters are unwilling to spend public money to build a new stadium for the San Francisco 49ers, according to a San Francisco Examiner poll.

The poll showed just 21 percent of the city's voters believe the city ``should contribute significantly'' to a new stadium for the NFL team.

Collins OK: Carolina's reeling Panthers got some good news when their medical staff determined quarterback Kerry Collins' knee sprain doesn't appear to be very severe.