NFL NOTEBOOK

Harrison's career appears finished

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Rodney Harrison's career is almost certainly over after the hard-hitting but injury-plagued safety of the New England Patriots tore his right thigh muscle.

"It appears as though the rehab could take 8 to 10 months," a person familiar with the injury told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not made an official announcement.

"For all intents and purposes, his career is over," the person, who confirmed the nature of the injury, said in an e-mail Tuesday.

Harrison, a 15-year veteran, two-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion, tore the quadriceps muscle without being hit while chasing scrambling quarterback Jay Cutler on the last play of the third quarter of the Patriots' 41-7 win over the Denver Broncos on Monday night.

Harrison has had persistent thigh problems as far back as last season's playoffs.

"He's had a slight tear all (this) season," Bill McLaughlin, a marketing representative for Harrison, said Tuesday. "He was getting treatment on it."

Reggie Bush had surgery on his left knee and it's unclear when the New Orleans Saints running back will be back with the team.

Bush, injured on a punt return in the first half of Sunday's 30- 7 loss to the Carolina Panthers, had the operation Monday in Birmingham, Ala., Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said Tuesday in an e- mail to The Associated Press. He gave no other details.

Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers safety, has not been ruled out of Sunday's key game against the New York Giants despite sustaining the seventh concussion of his career last weekend.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Tuesday that Polamalu received a concussion while tackling Bengals running back Cedric Benson on Sunday, the same play on which cornerback Bryant McFadden broke his right forearm. McFadden is expected to be out at least a month.

Despite Polamalu's past history of concussions, he may not miss any playing time.

Kellen Winslow, tight end, has been suspended for one game without pay by the Cleveland Browns for critical comments he made following Sunday's loss at Washington.

Winslow, who spent three days at the Cleveland Clinic earlier this month with an undisclosed illness, revealed he had a staph infection. He also complained that the team, which has had at least six cases of staph in the past three years, asked him to hide his illness.

Michael Vick, Former NFL quarterback, plans to plead guilty to state dogfighting charges, a step that could allow him to qualify for an early release from federal prison and into a halfway house, court papers show.

The Associated Press

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