San Diego Chargers hopeful Curtis Brinkley, of Philadelphia, hospitalized after being shot in his car in Elkins Park; reportedly in stable condition

CURTIS BRINKLEY is a lucky man.

Brinkley, a 2004 West Catholic High graduate and holder of two city-leagues football records that include season and career rushing yardage, was shot shortly after midnight yesterday while waiting to pick up his sister from work in Elkins Park.

Late yesterday, he was released from the intensive-care unit of Albert Einstein Medical Center and was listed in good condition.

But it could have been much worse.

The bullets hit Brinkley in the shoulder, sending bone fragments through his back. When he arrived at Einstein, after he was taken there by a Cheltenham Township police officer, doctors feared that the bullet and bone fragments may have pierced the arteries that lead to his heart.

"Thank God he's still here," his grandmother Margie Cason, who helped raise Brinkley, told the Daily News. "It's pretty serious but not life-threatening. Most of the time with things like this, the family never gets to see that person again. That is a blessing in itself."

Cheltenham police said that Brinkley, 23, was stopped in his car at the intersection of Spring Avenue and Ashbourne Road when the gunman started firing at about 12:02 a.m. Brinkley reportedly pressed the accelerator to escape and was at a safe location when police - who were in the area and heard the gunshots - found him.

"I was just with him," Cason said. "We were sitting there at 11:45 and his sister [Niveka Cason] called to see if he could pick her up in Elkins Park. She cares for mentally challenged people. The first bullet went through the windshield and he was just stunned."

The gunman fled in a waiting car. Cheltenham police are seeking a black male with light complexion of medium height and build who was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

"We aren't sure if the person was trying to rob him or it was a case of mistaken identity," Cason said. "The strange thing is that he wasn't in his car, he was using someone else's car. Maybe they were trying to steal his car."

Brinkley's great-uncle, Greg Brinkley, said his nephew "never had any reason to think this would happen."

Police reported no suspects and knew of no motive.

Tipsters can call Cheltenham police at 215-885-1600.

Brinkley might be sent home later this weekend. His football career, however, may be in jeopardy.

A sports-medicine doctor will need to flush out the bone fragments in his back, and his shoulder will take at least six to eight weeks to heal.

A 5 feet 9 running back, Brinkley was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Syracuse by the San Diego Chargers on April 26. He rushed for 1,164 yards and seven touchdowns last year with the Orange.

At West Catholic, Brinkley ran for 7,412 yards and 85 touchdowns.

Brinkley was set to leave for San Diego on July 24, ready to run under the tutelage of one of the NFL's best in LaDainian Tomlinson.

"He is worried about what's going to happen," said Brian Fluck, Brinkley's high-school coach at West. "He doesn't know if San Diego is going to give him a shot or release him. Those are questions no one knows. Sometimes you only get one shot in the NFL."

"He is mentally as messed up as the bullets that hit him," Cason explained. "He is in a lot of pain and isn't doing a lot of talking."

The Chargers released a brief statement about Brinkley but would not answer any of the impending questions about his career. He was one of 18 undrafted free agents signed by the team in April.

"The entire organization wishes Curtis a quick and full recovery," the statement read. "The team has learned no other details about the incident and will have no further comment while local authorities conduct their investigation."

Brinkley's grandmother said that 54 family members had traveled by bus to Syracuse for her grandson's graduation.

"They all look up to him," she said. "Why can't he live out his dream after all he's been through?

"One thing he was anxious to do was support the kids here [at Abbotsford Homes in the city's East Falls section]. He had recently been raising money to help fund a softball team for neighborhood children."

Fluck and Cason were as baffled as police as to why anyone would want to attack Brinkley.

"I can't say for sure, but he never got involved in any of that type of stuff," Fluck said. "He was never in any trouble."

"He is a good kid," Cason said. "We all know that. He didn't deserve anything like this." *

Staff writer St. John Barned-Smith contributed to this report.