Originally published Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Ex-WSU lineman Long hurt in crash

Rien Long, a former Washington State and NFL Tennessee Titans defensive lineman, was in critical condition Tuesday after he crashed his...

By The Associated Press

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Rien Long, pictured in 2003, is hospitalized.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Rien Long, a former Washington State and NFL Tennessee Titans defensive lineman, was in critical condition Tuesday after he crashed his car into a rock wall while driving onto an interstate.

Nashville police said Long, 26, was driving too fast down an onramp to Interstate 40 near downtown just before midnight Monday. His 2005 Ford Mustang started sliding at the bottom of the ramp, went up the embankment and hit a wall on the driver's side before rolling over onto the roof, police said.

Long, an Anacortes High School graduate, was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A hospital official Tuesday night said Long remained in critical condition.

Earlier in the day, according to The Tennessean newspaper, a different hospital official said Long "was still critical, but they have him stable."

A passenger, 28-year-old Wesley Stephens, was treated for noncritical injuries.

Long won the Outland Trophy and was an All-American as a junior at WSU in 2002. The Titans drafted him in the fourth round in 2003, and he started five of 39 games through his first three seasons. He missed the 2006 season with a torn Achilles tendon, then was placed on injured reserve for 2007 with a knee injury. He had his contract terminated after an injury settlement Sept. 6.

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