Romanowski implicates Conte

Bill Romanowski used steroids and human growth hormone supplied by Victor Conte, the former NFL linebacker tells the CBS news show ''60 Minutes" in an interview to be broadcast Sunday.

The former Boston College star said he took illegal steroids for a two-year period starting in 2001 and got them from Conte, the former head of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, which has been at the center of a steroids controversy in several sports.

''I took [human growth hormone] for a brief period and . . . I definitely didn't receive what I got out of THG," Romanowski said, referring to another drug he got from Conte.

In November 2003, the NFL notified Romanowski that he tested positive for the steroid THG.

Romanowski played linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, and Oakland Raiders in a 16-year career that ended in 2003.

Ward also ailing

Ben Roethlisberger isn't the Pittsburgh Steelers' only injury worry with Sunday's game against Jacksonville approaching. Wide receiver Hines Ward missed practice for a second straight day with a nagging hamstring injury. Roethlisberger, whose left knee was hyperextended during the Steelers' game-winning final drive Monday, did some light jogging and throwing but did not practice. Roethlisberger's backup, Tommy Maddox (calf), was upgraded from questionable to probable, meaning he could start ahead of No. 3 quarterback Charlie Batch if Roethlisberger can't go . . . Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney left practice after having difficulty loosening up. Freeney walked off the field carrying an ice pack, but coach Tony Dungy said Freeney was not expected to miss Monday night's game against the St. Louis Rams . . . Carolina Panthers running back Stephen Davis and fullback Brad Hoover returned to practice, while backup rusher DeShaun Foster missed his second day because of a sprained knee. Both Davis and Hoover remained questionable on the injury report . . . Jaguars running back Fred Taylor missed part of practice with a sprained right ankle and was downgraded to questionable for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh.

Peterson eyes return

New York Giants cornerback Will Peterson is expected to miss a minimum of 4-6 weeks with a lower back injury. After missing the Giants' 44-24 win over St. Louis Oct. 2, he said he might miss the rest of the season . . . The New Orleans Saints, forced out of the Superdome by Hurricane Katrina, will play in front of their first ''home" sellout of the season Sunday against Atlanta at the Alamodome in San Antonio . . . A man who was fatally shot by police was part of a botched conspiracy with two other men to kidnap and kill a Jacksonville Jaguars cheerleader and steal her Mercedes-Benz, said police in Neptune Beach, Fla. Jamie Lee Williams, 22, was shot and killed Tuesday after he pointed a gun at a Jacksonville Beach police officer after they had found out about the kidnapping plot . . . Ex-Dallas Cowboy Dwayne Goodrich was ordered to start a 7 1/2-year prison sentence for the hit-and-run deaths of two good Samaritans in 2003. Goodrich has exhausted his appeals since being convicted in August 2003, seven months after his car struck the men trying to free a trapped motorist inside a burning car.