While there has been no official word from the New England Patriots, several sources confirmed Thursday that starting left offensive tackle Matt Light underwent Wednesday surgery to repair a broken bone in his right leg. Light injured the leg in the second quarter of Sunday's victory at Pittsburgh and was taken from the field on a cart. The Patriots, who are typically cryptic about injuries and prognoses, have listed Light as "out" for this week's home game against San Diego, but characteristically have made no reference about a timetable for his possible return. At least for now, the Patriots do not plan to place Light on the injured reserve list, which would make him ineligible to play the rest of the season. The hope is that Light, arguably the blocking unit's best player, will be able to return later in the year.

ESPN.com's John Clayton is reporting that the New England Patriots have lost strong safety Rodney Harrison for the remainder of the 2005 season after it was determined that he did have a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, an injury he suffered in Sunday?s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Harrison's injury is the latest setback to a New England secondary already battered at the cornerback position. This will mark the second consecutive season in which the Patriots will be forced to overcome injuries in the secondary and in which the team's mettle and ability to compensate for the loss of key players will be tested.

On Sunday, New England might have lost safety Rodney Harrison's services for the bulk of this season on the same field. Harrison, the NFL's career leader for sacks by a defensive back, injured his left leg Sunday and was taken off the field on a stretcher in Pittsburgh. It's unclear how long Harrison will be out, but one Patriots player told The Boston Globe that "I would be surprised if he plays again this season." Harrison was hurt with the Steelers driving midway through the first quarter. Pittsburgh wide receiver Cedrick Wilson was taken down from behind, causing him to roll into Harrison's path and take out the safety's left leg.

Rolling Stone, the magazine that was home for years to Hunter S. Thompson, will publish a note written by the gonzo journalist days before he committed suicide in February. Douglas Brinkley, the presidential historian who is also Thompson's official biographer, writes that a Feb. 16 note may be Thompson's final written words. It reads: "No More Games. No More Bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No Fun ? for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Act your old age. Relax ? This won't hurt." Hunter left the note for his wife, Anita. He shot himself four days later at his home in Aspen, Colo., after weeks of pain from a host of physical problems that included a broken leg and a hip replacement. Written in black marker, the note was titled, "Football Season Is Over." Brinkley writes in the magazine, on newsstands Friday, "February was always the cruelest month for Hunter S. Thompson. An avid NFL fan, Hunter traditionally embraced the Super Bowl in January as the high-water mark of his year. February, by contrast, was doldrums time." Most of Thompson's early writings appeared in Rolling Stone. In pieces of great length, he often portrayed himself as a wildly intoxicated observer and participant.

Ever since he injured his hamstring early in training camp, Oakland receiver Jerry Porter has vowed to be ready for Thursday night's season opener against New England. Porter missed all four preseason games as he tried to avoid any setbacks, but said Monday he's ready to start alongside Randy Moss for the first time in the opener. He just hopes it won't take too long to shake off any rust. ``I feel like I went about this the right way. I feel like I'll be ready to contribute and play my best against New England on Thursday night,'' Porter said. ``I would have liked to have gotten at least one or two preseason games in and gotten a chance to play against somebody. ... It is how it is.''

New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi says he plans to play next year after taking this season off to recover from a mild stroke. Bruschi, in an interview with The Boston Globe, broke his silence about his future, which he said includes conducting a public awareness campaign about strokes. He was stricken in February. "I'm definitely playing next year," he said in the interview from his North Attleborough home. "That's my ace in the hole. It's a little hard to sit back and watch the guys [this season], but it's easier knowing I've got something to look forward to."