Extend regular season? Let's survive the one we have

   Running back Brian Westbrook and wide receiver DeSean Jackson won’t play in the Eagles’ critical home game Sunday against Atlanta.

   Clinton Portis will miss his third consecutive game for Washington, while reserve running back D.J. Ware won’t be available for the Giants’ injury-riddled ground game as they face division-rival Dallas in a must-win game.

   Browns safety Brodney Pool’s NFL career is in jeopardy after he was placed on injured reserve, as was teammate Jamal Lewis, whose career is over if the running back sticks to his plan to retire after this season.

   Quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger were on the sideline watching their teams lose last Sunday and are racing the clock – and symptoms – to return for key games this weekend.

   The common theme? They are all dealing with concussions.

   The list goes on and on, including Chargers linebacker Kevin Burnett, Vikings guard Anthony Herrera, Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, Seahawks defensive tackle Corey Redding, Colts tight end Gijon Robinson, Rams rookie right tackle Jason Smith and Bears cornerback Charles Tillman.

   And the NFL wants to extend the regular season?

   Good luck getting that past the players union after this season.

   Philadelphia is getting all too familiar with the league’s policy on dealing with concussions. To their credit, the Eagles have been highly cautious with Westbrook, and are taking the same approach with Jackson – no matter the playoff implications of being without their two biggest offensive weapons.

   "It's important that you listen to the experts," coach Andy Reid said. "I'm not an expert on the subject. I'm listening to doctors whose expertise is the head. I'll do whatever they want us to do.

   "You want to make sure the kid's OK and not put him in any jeopardy of getting hurt again on the field, or something that might hinder him through life. We're very cautious in this area."

   Hines Ward created a controversy in Pittsburgh this week by questioning whether Roethlisberger should have played at Baltimore last Sunday night. And Warner has admitted players don’t want to tell doctors about head injuries.

   "The hard thing is to make that decision where you feel like you could be hurting your team, but you don't know whether you're putting yourself at risk or not,” said Warner.