Raiders send Romo, Armstrong packing

[lil_fuckedupboy]

ESPN.com news services
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Linebacker Bill Romanowski, known for his training regimen and intensity on the field, was released Tuesday by the Oakland Raiders after failing a physical.


Romanowski was one of dozens of athletes to appear before a grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, or BALCO, the nutritional supplements lab accused of providing steroids to top sports stars.


The San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday that Romanowski was one of seven athletes who received steroids and human growth hormone from BALCO. Romanowski finished last season on injured reserve after several concussions.


The 37-year-old Romanowski, a 16-year NFL veteran, has been an enthusiastic booster of the zinc-magnesium nutritional supplement -- ZMA -- sold worldwide by BALCO founder Victor Conte.


Adding to his trouble last season, Romanowski was sued by former teammate Marcus Williams, seriously injured when they fought during practice at training camp last summer.


In other moves to get under the salary cap, the Raiders also released defensive end Trace Armstrong after he failed a physical, and they re-signed offensive lineman Brad Badger.


Armstrong, 38, finished last season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.


A Pro Bowl selection in 2000, he was a big part of Oakland's much-improved defense in 2002 that helped the Raiders reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 20 years. Armstrong, a 15-year veteran, played the last three seasons with Oakland.


"We appreciate Trace and Bill's contributions to the success of the Raiders and pay tribute to their glorious, productive careers," Raiders coach Norv Turner said in a statement.


Badger, 29, has played in 94 league games with 44 starts in seven NFL seasons, the last two with the Raiders.


The Raiders are expected to re-sign wide receiver Alvis Whitted and fullback Chris Heatherington.


Information from The Associated Press and ESPN.com's John Clayton was used in this report.