Strahan to play this season

Seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan has decided to end his holdout and return for a 15th NFL season with the New York Giants.

"He went with his heart instead of his head," Tony Agnone, his agent, said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Friday evening. "He felt at this point he was part of the team, and he was going to go to battle with them."

The decision came a day before the Giants had to cut their roster to the 53-man limit and a little more than a week before the season opener at Dallas.

"He knows he'll be ready to go," Agnone said of playing in the season opener. "He's been working out like crazy."

Strahan left the West Coast on Friday and planned to be at Giants Stadium on Monday when the team begins preparing for the Cowboys. He will have four practices before the game.

And Strahan might play more than the 2007 season.

"This does not mean at the end of the year that he is going to retire," Agnone said. "He is going to sit down again in March like he always does, and he said: '

Harrison to be suspended:

The NFL will suspend New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison four games for violating its substance abuse policy, Harrison said Friday night. Although the hard-hitting defensive back said he has never used steroids, "I did admit to the commissioner that I did, in fact, use a banned substance," Harrison said. "My purpose was never to gain a competitive edge. Rather, my use was to accelerate the process of reovering from injuries."

The suspension was first reported by ESPN.com, which said Harrison admitted to federal investigators that he obtained human growth hormone.

Jags to part ways with Leftwich: One of coach Jack Del Rio's first decisions with the Jacksonville Jaguars was drafting Byron Leftwich. One of his toughest was letting him go. Del Rio and the Jaguars said they are parting ways with Leftwich after four frustrating, injury-filled seasons. They hope to trade him but are resigned to releasing the former first-round draft pick.

Congressional hearing set: A Congressional committee will hold a hearing Sept. 18 about compensation for retired NFL players. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation called for the hearing Friday, several months after a House subcommittee heard testimony from retired players, union and NFL officials.