Offensive lineman Tony Mandarich, who sat out the Green Bay Packers' first seven games because of illness and injury, will miss the entire season due to effects of a concussion.
General manager Ron Wolf said Monday that reports from tests last week by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, indicated Mandarich is suffering from post-concussion syndrome.As a result, Wolf said, Mandarich will not be allowed to practice or play until next season.
"He has a concussion; that's what has been diagnosed," he said. "That means he can continue to work out, and by that I mean weight training and those type of things.
"But to be completely clear of this thing, he can no longer take part in contact until next season. (He's out) for this year."
Wolf said the Packers would pay Mandarich his $600,000 base salary for this year and would like him back in 1993, although his contract expires Feb. 1.
"I've hoped all along that we can get this corrected and let him be the type of football player he was at Michigan State," Wolf said.
Mandarich, 26, was the second player picked in the 1989 NFL draft but has had a lackluster career with the Packers.
This year he was hampered by illness prior to training camp, then suffered a severe concussion in an exhibition game with Kansas City Aug. 8.
Several days later, he was hospitalized with dizziness and the Packers' medical staff discovered he had a thyroid condition, requiring medication. He practiced for 21/2 weeks earlier this month before becoming ill and leaving the team.
Coach Mike Holmgren said doctors at the Cleveland Clinic, where Mandarich went to see a specialist, felt he was suffering from the post-concussion syndrome.
"It's a sequencing thing," he said. "Perhaps there are some memory problems ... residual effects from the concussion. They've discussed treatment over six months. That was a recommendation.
"We just want him to get well. We're just trying to pinpoint what's wrong."
Holmgren said Mandarich would go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for further tests.