NFL ROUNDUP News and notes

NFL ROUNDUP
News and notes

Steelers: Outside linebacker James Harrison has been cleared to play against San Francisco despite being carried off the field on a stretcher during Sunday’s game against Buffalo. Coach Mike Tomlin said the news on Harrison was “very good” and that Harrison was diagnosed with a stiff neck. Harrison may be held back during practice Wednesday, but can play Sunday, Tomlin said.

Eagles: Donovan McNabb says black quarterbacks face greater scrutiny than their white counterparts. In an interview on HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” that was broadcast Tuesday night, McNabb said black quarterbacks “have to do a little bit extra” because there are relatively few of them, adding “people didn’t want us to play this position.” McNabb said if he passes for 300 yards and his team wins by a touchdown, critics will say, “Oh, he could have made this throw here. We would have scored more points if he would have done this.” Asked if white quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer are held to the same standards, McNabb replied: “Let me start by saying, I love those guys. But they don’t get criticized as much as we do. They don’t.”

Bills: Kevin Everett could be transferred to a Houston hospital by this weekend to begin the next phase of his rehabilitation. The person said doctors still are making arrangements to determine which hospital would best suit Everett, who sustained the life-threatening spinal-cord injury Sept. 9 while making a tackle. The player grew up in Port Arthur, Texas, and now lives in Houston, 90 miles away.

Cowboys: Suspended defensive tackle Tank Johnson was signed to a two-year contract. Johnson, who played the last three seasons for the Bears, can’t play for the Cowboys and won’t be paid until he completes his eight-game NFL suspension for violating probation on a gun charge. He has served the first two games of that suspension and will still have to apply for reinstatement. Johnson signed after visiting with the Cowboys and taking a physical. He will make about $255,000 this season, the prorated portion of a minimum contract.

Jets: Pro Bowl kick returner-cornerback Justin Miller was placed on injured reserve because of a knee injury. Miller, who led the NFL last season in yards per kickoff return, injured his right knee during a 22-yard return early in the second quarter of New York’s 20-13 loss at Baltimore Sunday. He stayed on the turf for several minutes before being helped off the field and taken to the locker room. The nature and severity of the injury was not immediately known.

Seahawks: Jordan Babineaux signed a five-year extension, opting not to test free agency in the offseason. Babineaux, nicknamed “Big Play Babs” by his teammates, could have become an unrestricted free agent after the 2007 season, but will now remain in a Seahawks uniform through the 2012 season.

Falcons: Former Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich was signed, giving the team immediate depth and a potential contender for the starting job. Leftwich’s agent, Tom Condon, said the former first-round draft pick passed a physical, worked out for the team and signed a two-year, $7 million deal. The 27-year-old Leftwich is set to join the Falcons for Wednesday’s practice.

Redskins: Right guard Randy Thomas will have surgery today on his torn left triceps, the second major operation in two weeks on a Redskins offensive lineman. Thomas, who underwent an MRI Tuesday, will have to wear a splint or cast for at least six weeks and will likely need rehabilitation for several weeks thereafter. Team officials said they would wait until after the surgery is performed to determine whether he could play again this season. Thomas was hurt on the last offensive play of the first quarter in Monday night’s 20-12 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He was replaced by veteran Jason Fabini, who committed two false starts but otherwise held his own in another makeshift week for the offensive line. Coach Joe Gibbs said Fabini will start next week’s game against the New York Giants. The Redskins were already adjusting to the loss of right tackle Jon Jansen, who broke his fibula and dislocated his ankle in the season opener. Eighth-year veteran Todd Wade started in place of Jansen on Monday night.

Associated Press