NFL -- Tuinei's Heroin, Ecstacy Use Surprises His Widow, Pono

PLANO, Texas - Mark Tuinei, former Dallas Cowboy offensive lineman, died of an accidental drug overdose after taking a combination of heroin and a stimulant, according to a report from the Collin County medical examiner.

Plano police chief Bruce Glasscock said his department's investigation indicated Tuinei had never before used heroin.

"What you had was a 39-year-old male, 6-5, in excess of 300 pounds, a healthy individual, took one shot of heroin and basically dropped dead as a result," Glasscock said during a news conference yesterday.

Tuinei died May 6.

Tuinei's widow, Pono, who was in Hawaii at the time of her husband's death, said his heroin use "came as a complete shock to me."

"My heart is filled with sadness, confusion and disbelief," she said in a statement issued by her lawyer in Dallas. "If Mark could speak to us now, his wish would be that lessons be learned from his death so that similar unnecessary tragedies could be prevented in the future."

Glasscock said there had been no arrests in connection with Tuinei's death.

Dr. William Rohr, Collin County's medical examiner, said either the heroin or the Ecstacy could have killed the former player.

NOTES

-- The Cowboys reached an agreement on a contract with Ernie Mills, a free-agent wide receiver. Mills, who is entering his ninth NFL season, caught 28 passes for 479 yards and four touchdowns last season.

-- The expansion Cleveland Browns filled one of their thinnest

positions, agreeing to a one-year contract with outside linebacker Jamir Miller, an unrestricted free agent. Miller played the past five seasons for Arizona.

-- The Denver Broncos will induct John Elway into its Ring of Fame on Sept. 13, waiving the usual five-year waiting period.

-- A bill allocating $70 million for a New Englannd Patriot stadium was introduced by Massachusetts House and Senate leaders. The leaders said the bill could be the subject of a public hearing by Monday.