Harrison Ordered HGH Before Super Bowl

In the days leading up to the Patriots' January 2004 playoff game against the Titans, New England's star safety Rodney Harrison was ordering drugs from a Florida wellness clinic that would later become a target of the Albany County district attorney.

According to law enforcement sources, Harrison requested an order by phone and was issued a phony prescription, signed by a doctor, for what was discovered to be human growth hormone, the Albany Times Union reported in Wednesday's editions.

It was reportedly the first shipment of HGH sent to Harrison, who had a standout postseason that year for the Patriots. New England went on to win Super Bowl XXXVIII in February over the Carolina Panthers.

The NFL suspended Harrison for the first four games of the regular season for violating its substance-abuse policy. Harrison, 34, is not being paid during his suspension. He will be eligible to return to the Patriots' active roster following the team's Oct. 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Harrison admitted that he has taken HGH but said he has never taken steroids.

"I want to make it clear," Harrison said before the season began, "that never once did I take steroids. I did admit to the commissioner that I took a banned substance."

The Boston Globe, citing law enforcement officials, reported in August that Harrison made no effort to disguise his name or address when he purchased HGH over the Internet. Harrison is not facing any criminal charges in the case.

Leftwich Close to Signing with Falcons

Former Jacksonville Jaguars QB Byron Leftwich may have found a new home.

The Falcons were meeting with Leftwich on Monday night to determine whether they want to sign the former Jaguars quarterback.

The Falcons were planning to sign another quarterback this week or next, but Joey Harrington's performance in Sunday's 13-7 loss to Jacksonville may have placed more urgency on bringing in an experienced quarterback.

If Leftwich is signed, he will be the third quarterback behind Harrington and Chris Redman. Falcons coach Bobby Petrino wants to bring in a passer who can be developed in his system and ultimately compete for the job, while at the same time securing the depth behind Harrington.

Meanwhile, the Falcons again are turning to Morten Andersen to solve their kicking woes.

One day after Matt Prater missed two field goals in the Falcons' 13-7 loss to the Jags, the Falcons cut him and signed the 47-year-old Andersen.

Andersen, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and the NFL's career scoring leader with 2,445 points, is also the Falcons' leader with 707. He was Atlanta's kicker from 1995-2000 before coming back for a second stint with the team last year.

Andersen was 20-for-23 in field-goal attempts in 14 games with the Falcons last season, including 7-for-8 from 40 to 49 yards.

Belechick Find, Pats Lose Pick

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 Thursday and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for spying on an opponent's defensive signals.

Commissioner Roger Goodell also ordered the team to give up next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't.

The videotaping came to light after a camera was confiscated from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella while he was on the New York Jets' sideline during New England's 38-14 win last Sunday at Giants Stadium. Goodell will not change the outcome of the game.

New England, strengthened by the addition of Randy Moss and two other first-rate wide receivers as well as linebacker Adalius Thomas, is considered one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl for the fourth time since the 2001 season. If the Patriots lose their first-rounder next season they still will have a first-round pick, obtained from San Francisco in the deal that brought Moss from Oakland.

NFL rules state "no video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game'' and that all video or coaching purposes must be shot from locations "enclosed on all sides with a roof overhead."

NFL coaches long have suspected opponents of spying. In the early 1970s, the late George Allen, coach of the Washington Redskins, routinely would send a security man into the woods surrounding the team's practice facility because he suspected there were spies from other teams there.

And coaches like Seattle's Mike Holmgren and Philadelphia's Andy Reid, among others, always cover their mouths when calling plays from the sideline because they fear other teams have lip readers trying to determine their calls.

The action against Belichick is the latest in a series of harsh disciplinary actions taken by Goodell, who took office last Sept. 1, succeeding Paul Tagliabue.

The most notable were the indefinite suspension of Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick after he pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy and the one-year suspension of Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman'' Jones after numerous run-ins with police

Samuel Signs One-Year Tender

Asante Samuel ended his holdout and signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots today.

Samuel signed a one-year, $7.79 million contract and reported to Patriots camp eager to get back to work.

He wants to build on last season -- the best of his first four since New England drafted him in 2003 -- when he tied Champ Bailey of Denver for the NFL lead with 10 interceptions and picked off two more passes in the playoffs.

The Patriots received a temporary roster exemption for Samuel then got down to the 75-man limit by Tuesday's deadline by placing wide receivers Troy Brown and Chad Jackson and cornerback Eddie Jackson on the physically unable to perform reserve list, releasing offensive lineman Chris Patrick and putting rookie defensive back Mike Richardson on the injured reserve list with a hand injury, sidelining him for the season.

Samuel arrived in the area Sunday night and took his physical Monday when contract details were being finalized. No details were released on whether the Patriots gave up their right to designate him as a franchise player again next year.

By making him their franchise player after last season, the Patriots prevented him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. But they were committed to paying him the average salary of the top five players at his position. Samuel wanted a long-term contract, but it wasn't worked out before July 17, the deadline for such deals until after the season.

He originally said he would sit out the first 10 weeks of the season.

The Patriots drafted Samuel in the fourth round out of Central Florida. He started all 15 games in which he played the past two regular seasons. Last season he returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown that gave New England a 21-3 lead in the AFC Championship Game in Indianapolis.

But the Colts won 38-34, depriving the Patriots of a shot at a fourth Super Bowl title in six years.

Vick Pleads Guilty Then Apologizes

And now the apologies start.

Michael Vick apologized to the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons on Monday for "using bad judgment and making bad decisions" and vowed to redeem himself after pleading guilty to a dogfighting charge.

In a statement before the media, Vick said he took full responsibility for his actions. He concluded by saying: "I will redeem myself. I have to."

Sentencing was set for Dec. 10 and Vick could be sent to prison for one to five years. Vick was suspended indefinitely by the NFL last week.

"First, I want to apologize, you know, for all the things that -- that I've done and that I have allowed to happen. I want to personally apologize to commissioner Goodell, Arthur Blank, coach Bobby Petrino, my Atlanta Falcons teammates, you know, for our -- for our previous discussions that we had. And I was not honest and forthright in our discussions, and, you know, I was ashamed and totally disappointed in myself to say the least," Vick said.

"I want to apologize to all the young kids out there for my immature acts and, you know, what I did was, what I did was very immature so that means I need to grow up."

Vick said he now has renounced dogfighting and has found religion as a result of the federal charges. "Dogfighting is a terrible thing. I did reject it," he said.

"I totally ask for forgiveness and understanding as I move forward to bettering Michael Vick the person, not the football player," Vick said.

"I take full responsibility for my actions … I am totally responsible."

In Atlanta, the Falcons said they would not cut Vick immediately because of salary-cap issues. The team intends to pursue the $22 million in bonus money that he already received in a $130 million contract signed in 2004.

In his written plea filed in federal court Friday, Vick admitted to helping kill six to eight pit bulls and supplying money for gambling on the fights. He said he did not personally place any bets or share in any winnings.

The NFL suspended him indefinitely and without pay Friday after his plea agreement was filed. Merely associating with gamblers can trigger a lifetime ban under the league's personal conduct policy.

Federal prosecutors recommended 12-18 months in prison for Vick and co-defendants Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips.

NFL Suspends Vick Indefinitely

The days of Michael Vick playing for the Atlanta Falcons and possibly the National Football League ended today.

The NFL has suspended Vick indefinitely without pay following his admission of guilt in a dogfighting scheme.

On Friday, Vick filed his plea agreement in federal court admitting to conspiracy in a dogfighting ring and agreeing that the enterprise included killing pit bulls and gambling. He denied making side bets on the fights, but admitted to bankrolling them.

Friday afternoon, a letter to Vick from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said, in part:

"Your admitted conduct was not only illegal, but also cruel and reprehensible" and regardless whether he personally placed bets, "your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL player contract and expose you to corrupting influences in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player."

Goodell freed the Falcons to "assert any claims or remedies" to recover $22 million of Vick's signing bonus from the 10-year, $130 million contract he signed in 2004.

The commissioner didn't speak to Vick but based his decison on the court filings. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Goodell may meet with Vick in the future, but that hasn't been determined.

"You have engaged in conduct detrimental to the welfare of the NFL and have violated the league's personal conduct policy," Goodell told Vick in a letter. "Even if you personally did not place bets, as you contend, your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL Player Contract and expose you to corrupting influences in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player."

Falcons owner Arthur Blank supported Goodell's decision.

Bettis Faked Injury In 2000

Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Jerome Bettis, in a new book to be published in early September, says he faked a training camp injury in 2000 to avoid getting cut by the team.

The book, "The Bus. My Life in and out of a Helmet," includes an account where Bettis came into training camp with a knee that had been surgically repaired the previous summer. Bettis, fearing he would be cut if the team knew how much the knee was injured, didn't say anything. During a short-yardage drill at an early camp practice, Bettis fell down, grabbed his knee and yelled in pain.

Because Bettis was hurt in training camp, the Steelers couldn't release him. He was worried that the Steelers, and especially offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, wanted to give his job to Richard Huntley. Bettis cited a story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette which said that Huntley told his agent that Bettis would be cut.

He rushed for 1,341 yards in the 2000 season. Five years later, he was on Pittsburgh's Super Bowl winning team and then retired.

Bettis also wrote that Steelers coach Bill Cowher was never totally sold on quarterback Kordell Stewart, despite the fact Stewart was the team's most valuable player in 2001.

"For some reason, Coach would never really commit fully to Kordell ... and because of that, we had no consistent leadership from the quarterback position," Bettis wrote.

The book will be released on Sept. 4.

NFL 2007: Cleveland Browns

(This is the Corners look at the upcoming NFL season. For the next 32 days we'll be previewing each team and their prospects for the 2007 season. Today we look at the Cleveland Browns).

Romeo Crennel is on the hot seat in Cleveland and it's not because of the muggy August weather either. The former New England defensive coordinator has gone 10-22 in his first two seasons and ownership is becoming impatient with the situation. To that extent the Browns were aggressive in the draft and free agency with the hopes of getting a winning record in 2007.

Offense: Cleveland's problems start at the top with the quarterback. Some in the organization believe Charlie Frye is the guy to lead them to the playoffs, some disagree, which is why Notre Dame standout Brady Quinn was drafted in the first round. Quinn is in the midst of a long holdout which significantly hurts his chances to make an impact in 2007. Look for Frye to be the starter with Ken Dorsey the number two. Frye must cut down on his TD-to-interception ratio (10-17) if the Browns want to compete at a high level.

The running game was awful last season so Cleveland went out and signed Jamal Lewis in free agency. Lewis is aging, but is still a better option than what the Browns had last season. His 1,132 yards and nine scores proves he still has mileage left. Cleveland is just happy he's not pounding them anymore. Second-year pro Jerome Harrison will serve as backup with Jason Wright at number three. Lawrence Vickers and Alan Ricard will battle at fullback.

Things are a little better at wide receiver with Braylon Edwards (61-884-6) and Joe Jurevicius (40-495-3) a solid starting duo. Tim Carter was signed away from the Giants in the offseason and will be the slot receiver. Josh Cribbs, Travis Wilson and rookie Syndric Steptoe will fight for the number four role. Kellen Winslow (89-875-3) finally shook off two seasons of injuries and emerged as a top tier tight end. Steve Heiden (36-249-2) is a quality number two.

The big addition in Cleveland was all-world guard Eric Steinbach. The All-Pro went to the other side of town leaving Cincinnati for Cleveland and the big bucks. Steinbach immediately strengthens the running game with his power blocking. The Browns drafted Joe Thomas with their first first round pick and the Wisconsin grad will be plugged into the left tackle slot from the get-go. Nat Dorsey will play on the right side and will be a key, especially with incumbent Ryan Tucker suspended for four games to start the season. Cosey Coleman is at guard, while Hank Fraley is at center. Free agent signee Seth McKinney will battle Fraley for the job in the middle. Kevin Shaffer, Fred Matua, Kelly Butler and Lonnie Freidman provide solid depth. Also be on the lookout for LeCharles Bentley, who missed the last two seasons with a knee injury. The former All-Pro has been cleared to practice and faces an uphill battle to regain his form.

Defense: The Browns run a 3-4 defense and the influence of Crennel had this unit making nice strides in 2006. The additions of rookie Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald will help in the secondary, while Antwan Peek was signed from Texas to provide depth at linebacker.

Ageless one Ted Washington is back for his 17th season plugging the middle at nose tackle. He's not what he once was, but he's still an effective run clogger. Shaun Smith was signed from the Bengals to provide relief. Simon Fraser and Robaire Smith start at defensive end, but look out for rookie Chase Pittman to see plenty of playing time. DE Orien Harris will see action as well.

Kamerion Wimberly proved his first round draft status was no fluke with a solid rookie season that saw him collect 11 sacks and 62 tackles from the outside backer position. OLB Willie McGinest is slowing down some, but his leadership abilities are worth much more than his stats on the field. Andra Davis racked up a 100-tackle season in the middle and he'll be paired with either Leon Williams or Peek in the starting lineup. Chaun Thompson, Matt Stewart and Nick Speegle are the reserves.

The coaching staff wasn't happy with the play of the cornerbacks last season which is why Wright and McDonald were drafted, Daylon McCutcheon was released and Kenny Wright was signed over from the Redskins. Incumbent Leigh Bodden, along with returnees Gary Baxter and Daven Holly will compete for a position that's in a state of flux. Fortunately for the Browns, safety isn't a problem. Brodney Pool, Sean Jones (111 tackles, 5 INT), Mike Adams and Justin Hamilton make up a strong group.

Special Teams: Usually reliable Phil Dawson (21-of-29 FG, 88 points) struggled last season, especially from 40-49 where he was 6-of-12, and needs to find his consistency in 2007. Dave Zastudil (44.0) is a solid punter. Cribbs handles punt returns and Wilson kickoff returns.

Outlook: The Browns had a solid draft and did a nice job in free agency trying to improve the team. That's the good news. The bad is the quarterback position is shaky and the secondary is thin. Combine those two and you have problems. Jamal Lewis will have to stay healthy and run like he did during his 2,000 yard campaign for the Browns to be competitive. He must hold up or all could be lost. The jury is still out on Frye. If he can cut down on the interceptions, the Browns may surprise. That is speculation though. The truth is Cleveland is weak at the most important position on the field and the secondary will get burned quite a bit this season.

Prediction: Cleveland doesn't have the tools to compete with the power brokers in the AFC. Inconsistency at quarterback and the secondary will give Crennel his third straight losing season, but the wins will improve from 2006. Record: 7-9.

NFL 2007: Cincinnati Bengals

(This is the Corners look at the upcoming NFL season. For the next 32 days we'll be previewing each team and their prospects for the 2007 season. Today we look at the Cincinnati Bengals).

The Cincinnati Bengals stumbled last season, thanks to numerous offseason arrests and a defense that gave up too many yards and points. All that led to an 8-8 record and a playoff no-show. Head coach Marvin Lewis is looking for a bounce-back season from his club. In order to have that the defense must step up in 2007.

Offense: Palmer is the best quarterback in the league not named Peyton Manning. He came back from a knee injury during the 2005 playoffs to throw for 4,035 yards and 28 TDs last season. He's one of the best in the game and his health is of the utmost importance to Lewis, because Doug Johnson and rookie Jeff Rowe are the backups.

Rudi Johnson had another solid season in the high-powered Bengal offense. The Auburn product ran for 1,309 yards and 12 touchdowns. Capable Kenny Watson and rookie Kenny Irons will spell Johnson. Jeremi Johnson is a solid, rough blocking fullback.

Cincinnati is blessed with two top tier wideouts in Chad Johnson (87-1,369-7), who outruns horses for fun, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (90-1,081-9). After that, things get dicey. Reggie McNeal, Skyler Green and Glenn Holt will have to pick up the slack until oft-troubled Chris Henry (36-605-9) returns from his eight game suspension. Reggie Kelly starts at tight end, but he's mainly a blocker.

The offensive line must protect Palmer and luckily for Lewis, the Bengals have a nice group in the trenches. Eric Ghiaciuc is at center, Andrew Whitworth and Bobbie Williams man the guard spots, while Willie Anderson and Levi Jones are top-flight bookends. Stacey Andrews, Alex Stepanovich and Scott Kooistra provide quality depth.

Defense: Cincinnati's Achilles' Heel has been on the defensive side of the ball. If the coaching staff can shore it up, another playoff berth is in the cards.

The biggest problem for the Bengal defense was stopping the run and to that end Lewis brought in DT Michael Myers from Denver and drafted Matt Toeaina. Myers will pair with Domata Peko, an impressive second-year pro, to shore up the interior. John Thornton and Toeaina will be part of the tackle rotation. Justin Smith (81 tackles, 7.5 sacks) and Bryan Robinson start at defensive end with Robert Geathers (10.5 sacks) coming in on passing downs.

Selecting middle linebacker Ahmad Brooks in last years supplemental draft is looking more smarter every day for the Cincinnati brass. With David Pollack's career over and Odell Thurman gone for the year, Brooks will start and be factor in the success or failure of the defense. Landon Johnson and Caleb Miller will start on the outside with Rashad Jeanty coming in on passing situations.

The secondary was strengthened in the draft with CB Leon Hall and safeties Nedu Ndukwe and Marvin White. Deltha O'Neal and Johnathan Joseph start at corner and Madieu Williams and Dexter Jackson at safety. CB Keiwan Ratliff and S Ethan Kilmer will see time as well.

Special Teams: No problem here. Shayne Graham (25-of-30 FG, 115 points) is one of the top five kickers in the league. He's almost automatic from 49 yards in (he was 23-of-25 in 2006). Kyle Larson has a big leg as evidenced by his 44.5 yard per punt last season. Watson is back to handle kickoff returns, while Houshmandzadeh returns punts.

Outlook: The Bengals have one of the most potent offenses in the National Football League and show no signs of slowing down. The key to Cincinnati's success will come down to the effectiveness of the defense. Ironically, the defense has been the weak link in Marvin Lewis' tenure with the Bengals. If Cincy can buck up against the run, a Super Bowl appearance is possible.

Prediction: The Bengals will score big-time points and the defense, thanks to the new additions, will be more stout against the run. Look for Cincinnati to battle Baltimore for the AFC North title. Record: 12-4.