The League

New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce is sidelined indefinitely because of a bulging disk in his neck that was diagnosed Friday, the team announced.

According to the Giants, Pierce underwent an MRI exam Friday after experiencing discomfort during practices this week.

He was hurt during an Oct. 25 game against the Arizona Cardinals but felt okay until this week, according to the Giants.

"I'm shocked with what I heard from the doctors this afternoon," Pierce said in a written statement posted on the team's Web site. "I had no idea that what happened a few weeks ago could keep me off the field. I didn't think it was that serious. I'm going to do everything the doctors tell me to do so I can get back out on the field as soon as possible."

Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid said Friday that tailback Brian Westbrook will be sidelined at least until he undergoes another neurological examination in a few weeks, according to the Eagles' Web site.

Westbrook suffered two concussions in recent weeks and was examined by specialists this week in Pittsburgh.

The doctors announced after examining Westbrook that he was making progress and would be tested again in two to three weeks.

Tailback Cedric Benson missed a third straight Cincinnati Bengals' practice because of a hip injury and was listed as doubtful on the team's official injury report.

Benson said his playing status Sunday would be a game-time decision, according to the Bengals' Web site.

However, it appears unlikely that Benson will play against the Oakland Raiders.

Just-signed tailback Larry Johnson might make his Bengals debut.

"I'm going out there with the anticipation of playing," Johnson said Friday, according to the club's Web site. "I don't know what they're doing numbers-wise but I know I am going to be put in some of the packages and some of the plays and go from there. I don't know if it's a whole game plan. Whatever they give me, I'll do the best I can with it.... It's a new situation, new environment. It all depends on what they want me to do."

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu will miss Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs because of a knee injury, according to multiple reports.

Polamalu was hurt during last Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

It was his second injury to his left knee suffered this season.

The Steelers have called this injury not as severe as the previous one, which caused Polamalu to miss four games.

The first injury was to the medial collateral ligament. This one, according to the team, is to the posterior cruciate ligament.

The Denver Broncos are calling quarterback Kyle Orton's availability for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers a game-time decision.

Orton missed a third straight practice Friday, the Associated Press reported.

He suffered a sprained ankle during last Sunday's loss to the Washington Redskins.

Backup Chris Simms worked with the Broncos' starting offense in practice this week and would start this weekend if Orton is unable to play.

Simms would be making his first start since early in the 2006 season when he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and suffered a spleen injury that required emergency surgery.

The Broncos have lost three games in a row after a 6-0 start to the season, and are playing the Chargers for first place in the AFC West.

The Buffalo Bills could be shorthanded at defensive tackle in Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

According to the Associated Press, the Bills' Marcus Stroud has been ruled out of the game against his former team because of a knee injury.

Buffalo's other starting defensive tackle, Kyle Williams, is questionable for the game because of a knee injury.

The Bills' backups are Spencer Johnson and John McCargo.

Cleveland Browns Coach Eric Mangini said he expects wide receiver and kick returner Josh Cribbs to play in Sunday's game at Detroit, according to the Associated Press.

Cribbs was injured on the final play of Monday night's loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

He was taken to a hospital to determine if he'd suffered a concussion or neck injury but all tests were negative, according to the Browns.

Chicago Bears running back Garrett Wolfe reportedly is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season because of a lacerated kidney.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that while it initially was hoped that Wolfe would play again this season, that possibility has been ruled out.

Wolfe was hospitalized for three nights following a Nov. 8 game against the Arizona Cardinals.

He is expected to be able to resume his NFL career, the Sun-Times reported.

UPDATED (1:31 p.m.)...

The NFL Players Association is seeking to remove neurologist Ira Casson from the league's concussions committee.

Casson has been a controversial figure because of his public comments playing down the significance of outside research into the rate and severity of brain injuries suffered by NFL players.

Several members of Congress questioned Casson's views during a hearing last month of the House Judiciary Committee on the topic, and told NFL officials they would have liked for Casson to have attended the hearing.

"Based on his track record of challenging independent research that has been done related to health and safety issues, we have concerns about his ability to continue in this role," George Atallah, the union's assistant executive director of external affairs, said in a telephone interview Friday. "Dr. Casson has blatantly ignored and combated a lot of the research that's been done on these issues and we're concerned going into the new era of player health and safety that he continues to have such a critical role."

The union's effort to remove Casson, the co-chairman of the league's concussion committee, was first reported by the New York Times.

DeMaurice Smith, the union's executive director, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell have been in discussions about possible changes to the league's efforts to deal with concussions suffered by players.

Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior vice president of public relations, said in a written statement: "Neither DeMaurice Smith nor anyone else at the NFLPA initiated a discussion about Dr. Casson with the commissioner. However, we have informed Mr. Smith of a number of steps we are considering relating to player health and safety, including the work and structure of our committee on brain injuries."

The league-owned NFL Network reported this week that Goodell has told Smith the measures being considered by the league include possible equipment improvements; prospective changes to the guidelines about when a player could resume playing after suffering a concussion; potential limitations on the amount of contact allowed in practices and offseason workouts, pehaps to the point that players wouldn't wear helmets during some practices; a prospective system for allowing players to report a teammate's concussion symptoms; and a possibly expanded role for non-team-affiliated doctors in making decisions about the playing status of players.

Some of those possible measures reportedly are being discussed by members of a committee headed by former NFL coach and broadcaster John Madden. The committee is to make recommendations to the league's competition committee.

Running back Reggie Bush missed a second straight New Orleans Saints' practice Thursday because of a swollen knee.

According to the Associated Press, Coach Sean Payton said he's hopeful that Bush will practice Friday.

But Payton said the Saints will be cautious with Bush's knee and he didn't say whether Bush will play this weekend, the AP reported.

The Minnesota Vikings have extended the contract of Coach Brad Childress, the team announced Thursday.

"Brad has done a tremendous job leading this football team and we value the positive environment he has created for the Minnesota Vikings on and off the field," Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said in a written statement. "He has continued to positively impact this team and create a strong foundation for future success."

The club did not announce terms of the extension. ESPN reported that the deal runs through the 2013 season.

Childress's contract was to expire after the 2010 season. It paid him approximately $2 million per season, and it was expected that this extension would double Childress's salary.

The Vikings have a record of 8-1 after Childress helped to lure quarterback Brett Favre out of retirement before the season to play for the club. The Vikings lead the NFC North and are in contention for the top seed in the NFC playoffs.

"My family and I are very fortunate to be a part of the Minnesota Vikings organization," Childress said in a written statement. "I value the opportunity to continue to lead this team over the next several years as we work toward our ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl for our passionate fans everywhere."