OAKLAND, Calif. – Former Oakland Raiders tight end Marcus Williams suffered a brain injury in August when star linebacker Bill Romanowski punched him in the face, according to court papers filed last week.

The documents in Alameda County Superior Court say that Williams is seeking $3.8 million in his lawsuit against Romanowski for lost earnings, medical costs, psychological care and punitive damages.

Romanowski is being sued for battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence.

The lawsuit stems from an incident Aug. 24 at the Raiders’ training camp in Alameda. Witnesses said Romanowski grabbed Williams’ face mask, pulled off his helmet and punched him in the face.

The punch broke Williams’ left eye socket, and at least one tooth.

Williams’ attorneys Friday assert that the punch “drove Williams’ eye back into his skull” and caused a lesion on his brain.

The Raiders put Williams on the injured reserve list as a result of his injuries, prohibiting him from playing during the 2003 season.

Williams’ attorney, James Brosnahan, has said Williams suffers blurring of his vision and that doctors say surgery may be necessary.

Brosnahan could not be reached for comment Wednesday nor could Romanowski’s attorney, Jeffrey A. Springer of Denver.

The only person speaking on the matter was Al Davis, the Raiders managing general partner. He said fisticuffs on the field have long been an unfortunate part of professional football.

“I’m not condoning it, but I also say it’s part of our life,” Davis told reporters at team headquarters. “Romanowski is a tough guy and so is the other guy.”

The lawsuit is one of several troubles for Romanowski, a fiery strong-side linebacker who was a mainstay for the Raiders in their 2002 Super Bowl run.

He played only three games this past season and went on injured reserve after suffering several concussions.

He also was linked to a scandal involving a Bay Area nutritional supplement lab alleged to have produced a designer steroid. Romanowski, has touted the lab’s products and testified last year in a grand jury probe of the lab.

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(c) 2004, Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.).

Visit the Contra Costa Times on the Web at http://www.contracostatimes.com.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

AP-NY-01-21-04 2129EST