Braham: Injury was tibial plateau fracture

The "deep knee bruise" that ended center Rich Braham's season, indeed, was a tibial plateau fracture, he said this afternoon. The bone was crushed down into his leg and bled.

The 13-year center announced his retirement this afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium.

"The biggest thing is I want to thank the Bengals organization, the fans, coaches, the players," Braham said. "It was a lot of fun.

"It gets to a point, do you want to walk one day?"

Bengals president Mike Brown and offensive line coach/assistant head coach Paul Alexander attended the news conference.

"Rich has been a credit to the Bengals in all ways," Brown said. "He has been a fine player, as well as being one of the most solid guys off the field."

Only three players have played more Bengals season than Braham's 13: quarterback Ken Anderson (16), cornerback Ken Riley (14) and linebacker Reggie Williams (14). The other 13-year Bengals were offensive tackles Anthony Munoz and Joe Walter and kicker Jim Breech.

At the game Sunday afternoon against Pittsburgh, a commemorative Braham poster will be given to the first 40,000 fans. And Braham will be honored in a pre-game ceremony, after the Bengals’ team introductions.