Jaguars' Collier in critical condition after shooting

Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee (R) celebrates with teammate Richard Collier after kicking the game winning field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fouth quarter during their AFC Wild Card NFL playoff football game in Pittsburgh January 5, 2008.

MIAMI (Reuters) - Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier is in critical but stable condition after being shot in the early hours of Tuesday, the NFL team said.

"We're shocked and deeply saddened by the news about Richard Collier," said Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver.

"We have been informed that Richard has had surgery and he's in critical but stable condition. The entire Jaguars family is praying for Richard and his family at this time," added Weaver in a statement issued on the team's website (jaguars.com).

When contacted for information relating to the Collier incident, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office provided an incident report which did not name the victim but detailed a shooting at 2.50 a.m. on Tuesday.

It referred to a handgun shooting and a report from a law-enforcement officer who attended the scene and said the victim had been found slumped over in the passenger seat of a red SUV in the parking lot in front of an apartment building.

Collier, used as a back-up offensive tackle, has appeared in eight games in his two seasons with the Jaguars and made one start.

The shooting was the third of an NFL player since January 2007 -- Denver Broncos' Darrent Williams was shot dead after a New Years Eve party and Sean Taylor, a safety with the Washington Redskins, died after receiving shot wounds during a break-in at his home near Miami in November.

(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; Editing by Sonia Oxley)