NFL Notebook: Vikings Harvin 'doing fine'

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin is back with the team after an overnight hospital stay following a scary migraine attack, though his return to the field remains unclear.

Harvin was on the practice field Friday morning wearing a T-shirt, shorts and tennis shoes, drinking Gatorade while smiling and chatting with coaches. He exchanged handshakes and hugs with a few teammates -- waving at Pat Williams after the defensive tackle yelled "Hey, Perce, what's up?" -- before walking inside the team's practice facility.

Harvin was taken away from Winter Park by ambulance Thursday after getting sick and collapsing on the field, a sobering scene that prompted the Vikings to end practice early.

Harvin has missed all but a handful of practices since training camp began three weeks ago, plagued again by the unpredictable, debilitating migraine episodes that can leave him unable to function, let alone put on a helmet and pads and run around the field.

But Harvin was, by all accounts, doing fine one day later.

"He probably could've come over here and done some things today, except for the fact that they've got a couple tests that they want to finish with," coach Brad Childress said. "I don't know that we're going to solve that riddle immediately, and I don't know that there's any quick fixes. I think it's just going to be a work in progress, and even though you'd like to stick it in a box and have it be fixed this way. History has told migraines aren't that way."

Harvin will not travel with the team to San Francisco for Sunday's exhibition game against the 49ers. With the regular season opener in New Orleans less than three weeks away, his availability -- let alone ability to contribute at an elite level -- is in question.

Childress downplayed the concern.

"He had a few last year that he dealt with and we dealt with, and if it was his first choice he'd here for all the prep for every week," Childress said. "But the fact is he has played well in games that he's had a migraine the week of the game, and it just matters whether it's a short one, a hard one, a two-day one and then what he was able to get out of the game plan."

Wide receiver Sidney Rice, who hasn't practiced yet himself because of a lingering hip injury, is also in that uncertain category. Rice said Friday he's having "a little bit of pain" and acknowledged his readiness "is still up in the air" for the big Saints game on Sept. 9.

"I'm pushing, working hard every day," Rice said, adding: "As long as my conditioning is good and feel comfortable, I'm sure I'll be fine."

With depth an obvious concern at wide receiver, the Vikings worked out two notable veteran free agents in the morning: Brandon Jones and Javon Walker. Jones was let go this week by San Francisco, and Walker was cut in March by Oakland. Childress had yet to meet with them when he address the media and said neither player had been signed.

"We'll just see how it goes going forward," Childress said. "We are checking the other able-bodied guys out there that we feel like are a fit for us here. You have to be ready for a Plan B, usually."

Bills TE Shawn Nelson suspended 4 games

NEW YORK -- Buffalo Bills tight end Shawn Nelson has been suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

The league announced Friday that Nelson will be suspended without pay for the Bills' regular-season games against the Dolphins, Packers, Patriots and Jets. He can return to the active roster Oct. 4 and play the following weekend against the Jaguars.

Nelson had 17 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown in 12 games as a rookie out of Southern Mississippi last season.

The Bills were already short-handed at tight end after Derek Schouman hurt his knee in Thursday's 34-21 preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Nelson is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.

Giants sign former Pro Bowl OL Shawn Andrews

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Two-time Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews is giving football one last shot and it's going to be with the New York Giants.

After working out the former Philadelphia Eagles star at training camp, the Giants signed Andrews early Friday morning, giving depth to a line that now seemingly has more good players than starting spots.

Andrews has a lot to prove, too. The 27-year-old has not played since early in the 2008 season, missing all but two games the last two years because of back problems that required two surgeries.

"I am laying it all on the line, not that I haven't before," Andrews said. "This is it. The Giants are going to get everything from me."

There is no doubt Andrews is a talent. He also has baggage besides the back issues. His passion for football was questioned during his time in Philadelphia, with critics saying he was more interested in his music career, and he also missed part of the 2008 training camp while battling depression.

"My head is in the game," Andrews said. "It's always been in the game. I just had some setbacks there. It was untimely, and I've heard every excuse from myself why the things happened back in 2008. It happened. We all go through things.

"Why not give a guy a second chance who is passionate about what he does?"

Andrews has spent the past 10 months in Los Angeles, rehabilitating from his second back surgery. He said his back feels good, although he probably will be eased in with the Giants.

"I am a competitor," Andrews said, when asked why he came back to football. "I am trying to follow in the footsteps of the great Larry Allen. I want to be that good and even better and I think I have a chance to do that. This conference is competitive and I think I have a good shot to achieve that. Hopefully, everything goes well and it's back to kicking butt."

The Giants and several other teams followed Andrews' progress during his rehabilitation, but New York signed him. Andrews said he liked the people on the Giants, and the fact that they are located close to Philadelphia and play in the same division.

The Eagles released Andrews in March, saying he failed his physical. Andrews did not agree.

"I'm not making this a Shawn versus the Eagles thing," said Andrews, who made 50 starts for Philadelphia. "It was an untimely release. They wanted to go in another direction and I just kept working my tail off, so here I am. I am a G-Man."

While Andrews made the Pro Bowl in 2006 and '07 as a physical guard -- he was an alternate in 2005 -- he also has the footwork and strength to play tackle.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin said Andrews, the 16th pick in the 2004 draft, was an outstanding player a couple of years ago.

"He does indicate to you the kind of desire that he has to get back in the game," Coughlin said.

The Giants' starting line has been relatively the same in recent years, with Kareem McKenzie and David Diehl at tackle, Chris Snee and Rich Seubert at guard and Shaun O'Hara at center.

While Diehl, O'Hara and Snee played in the Pro Bowl last year, the Giants have been experimenting with their line in camp. Diehl has moved from left tackle to left guard in place of Seubert (broken hand) and second-year pro Will Beatty has started at left tackle.

Snee also has missed more than a week of practice with swelling in his left knee.

The Giants waived offensive lineman Cliff Louis to clear space on the roster.