Posted by Josh Katzowitz

After a tumor was found in the brain of Jerome Harrison -- scuttling a trade between the Eagles and Lions -- Harrison underwent surgery to remove it Friday, and ESPN’s Chris Mortensen is reporting that the surgery went well and doctors believe “all of (the) tumor was removed”.

Which obviously is fantastic news for Harrison.

The report of the brain tumor was a scary moment for Harrison, who had been traded to the Eagles for Ronnie Brown.

But during the physical performed by Philadelphia doctors, after Harrison complained of headaches (strong enough where Brown had to wear sunglasses on the practice field), an MRI revealed a brain tumor. Which means the trade, even though it was voided, might have been the best thing ever to happen to Harrison.

As my colleague Ryan Wilson pointed out on Friday, Lions coach Jim Schwartz visited Harrison in the hospital before he underwent brain surgery.

"He was in very good spirits," Schwartz said. "But after that, I don’t know if I want to talk too much. It’s one of those things, it’s a non-football thing, and I’ll just let him take it away from that spot."

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(US PRESSWIRE)

Posted by Ryan Wilson

Earlier this week, Jerome Harrison's biggest problem was that the Lions had traded him to the Eagles for Ronnie Brown. But that soon became an afterthought when a routine physical revealed that Harrison had a brain tumor. The discovery nullified the trade, and on Friday, Harrison was set to undergo surgery.

According to the Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett, head coach Jim Schwartz visited Harrison in the hospital Friday morning prior to the procedure.

"He was in very good spirits," Schwartz said. "But after that, I don’t know if I want to talk too much. It’s one of those things, it’s a non-football thing, and I’ll just let him take it away from that spot."

Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia reported Thursday that Harrison told the Eagles he was experiencing headaches. That prompted team physician Gary Dorshimer to order an MRI, which revealed the brain tumor.

Several Lions players told Birkett that Harrison had been complaining of headaches recently, to the point that he wore sunglasses on the practice field before being fitted with a tinted visor.

"Everybody thought it was just a regular headache," cornerback Chris Houston said. "It was much more than that."

"You don’t really think about a brain tumor," linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba added. "You think about maybe a hard hit to the head, migraine, maybe a few days to get back and clear your head up, but you see how serious it can be."

The Lions placed Harrison on the reserve/non-football illness list Friday, and signed Eldra Buckley as his replacement.

Birkett adds that "Buckley worked out for the Lions on Thursday and practiced with the No. 1 punt team [Friday]. He could be active if starting running back Jahvid Best is out for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons."

After suffering their first loss of the season last week over the 49ers, the Detroit Lions look to bounce back as they prepare to battle the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field. Jason Horowitz welcomes NFL.com's Pat Kirwan to take a look at this matchup. Also: don't forget to check out the Pregame: Falcons-Lions edition.

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

The Jerome Harrison-Ronnie Brown trade that was voided Wednesday between the Lions and the Eagles was thwarted by a brain tumor found in Harrison during a routine physical.

That’s the report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who writes, “Without trade, Jerome Harrison doesn't get physical. Without physical, doctors don't find brain tumor. Trade might have saved his life.”

Now, the disappointment some might have felt when the trade fell through Wednesday has to be tempered by the fortuitous discovery made by the Eagles doctors.

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

You remember that vaunted “Ronnie Brown for Jerome Harrison” deal the Eagles and Lions pulled off? You should; it just happened Tuesday before the trade deadline.

Well, if you didn’t hear about it, then forget it, because it’s off, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The reason the swap has been canceled? As Schefter reports, it’s because Harrison has health issues. What does that mean exactly? It means that, as the Philadelphia Inquirer writes, Harrison couldn’t pass his physical.

So, Harrison reverts back to being a Lions player, and Brown stays in Philadelphia.

Nothing to see here.

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Posted by Will Brinson

The Eagles continued their streak of trading for Jerome Harrison at the NFL's trade deadline (two years is a streak, right?), acquiring the running back and an undisclosed draft pick from the Lions on Tuesday in exchange for running back Ronnie Brown, the team announced.

Last year around this time, the Eagles acquired Harrison from Cleveland in exchange for Mike Bell.

In eight games with the Eagles last year, Harrison averaged 29.9 yards per game on five carries and scored once. Brown to this point has averaged 6.3 yards per game and posted one of the worst turnovers in the history of the NFL when he tried to lateral the ball from the one-yard line to Michael Vick as he was falling to the ground.

Good news for the Lions, then: Brown will be getting some decent carries because of the concussion that Jahvid Best is currently dealing with, and will likely serve as the team's goal line back even when Best returns to the lineup.

Actually, Brown can make a difference for the Lions, as he's the type of between-the-tackles power runner that the Lions could use. His style never really worked with what Andy Reid wanted to run in Philadelphia.

Don't expect Harrison to make much more of an impact in Philly than he did last year however. But the Eagles feel like they basically swapped out a similar player (in their system anyway) and picked up a draft pick, which is a win for them as well.

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Posted by Will Brinson

Anyone who decided to skip the Philadelphia - Washington Monday night game and do something boring like watch the NBA eat dinner with your family is gonna be pretty upset come Tuesday. Michael Vick treated fans to a first-half performance that might go down as one of the most memorable primetime explosions in NFL history as Vick threw for 264 yards and three TDs and ran for another 66 yards and 2 TDs.

The opening play from scrimmage, an 88-yard bomb from Vick to DeSean Jackson, was the longest first play from scrimmage in Eagles history, the 10th longest pass play in Eagles history, the longest play from scrimmage ever against the Redskins, and the longest play in both Vick and Jackson's respective careers.

The Eagles didn't stop there, though, pouring on the points for the entire half, and taking a 28-0 lead into the second quarter, which set the NFL record for biggest lead by a road team in NFL history after one quarter.

Oh yes, and the Eagles posted 280 yards from scrimmage in that first quarter, also an NFL record.

Fortunately, for interest and ratings' sake, the Redskins realized the game had started, and McNabb connected on two long passes to Anthony Anderson and Fred Davis, both of which eventually led to touchdowns for the Eagles. (Expensive ones, too, since McNabb's making a little bit more money now, in case you missed the news about his extension.)

But Washington's attempt to salvage some pride didn't last too long, as Vick kept distributing the ball en route to piling up 45 total points, an Eagles record for points in a half. On the way, nearly everyone got in on the action as LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin both caught touchdowns and even Jerome Harrison scored on a 50-yard scamper.

A less impressive way to look at the 45 points? That ties the record for most points given up by the Redskins in one half, previously set when they lost to the Bears 73-0 way back in 1940.

For those of you who play fantasy football, Vick (who I'm starting in a pair of leagues, *shimmy*), piled up 46 points in standard CBSSports.com leagues, and even warranted a hot sticky ... after the first quarter.

And one more for the road: Vick managed to pass Steve Young for second all-time for rushing yards by a quarterback, trailing only Randall Cunningham (who once received a contract extension the night before playing the Redskins; seriously).

Needless to say, there's not a whole lot that could happen in the second half to really shock anyone. Or is there ...

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Posted by Will Brinson

Got a link for the Hot Routes? Hit us up on Twitter (@CBSSportsNFL).

• Vince Young thought his season was over when he left the field on Monday night. That's understandable, especially considering how close Young appeared to being seriously injured when he fumbled a snap, recovered the snap and then tried to get up and run with the ball even after his knee hit the ground. Instincts and athleticism and whatever aside, there's only one option at that point in time for any NFL quarterback: fall on the freaking ball and lay there, praying you don't get smushed.

• Randy Moss' daughter has a scholarship offer from Florida to play basketball. How on Earth she doesn't have an offer from every school in the country (donations, fame of alumni, sheer athleticism upside) is beyond me.

• Arian Foster has signed with Boombah, according to Darren Rovell. Here's a link to what happens when you Google "Boombah," just to save you some time. Kidding -- it's awesome that a great guy like Foster is having a big season and making some more money.

• Sean Payton was apparently running his mouth against the Buccaneers on Sunday. That seems karmically foolish for the same reasons as pointing and laughing at your seven-year-old cousin when you block his basketball shots is mean. Or something. 

• The Bears dropped defensive end Charles Grant and added Barry Turner. Based on the length of time Grant and Mark Anderson stayed in Chicago, Turner probably shouldn't buy a condo or anything.

• Mike Tomlin is "all in favor of player safety" but thinks that James Harrison got a raw deal on his $75,000 fine.

• This may come as a surprise, but Jacksonville Jaguars fans are about as happy with Jack Del Rio as anyone who played against Chris Johnson in fantasy this week.

• Davone Bess is now the highest-paid slot receiver in the NFL -- because, you see, Wes Welker is no longer a "slot" receiver with Randy Moss gone. No word on whether or not the Dolphins will eventually ship Bess to New England for next to nothing.

• The Packers are experimenting with grass, man. And lights, brah. But not in the way that will get you a heat-check fly-by from the Feds. They just want less Frozen Tundra.

• Turns out Mlles Austin leapfrogging Roy Williams didn't incur any penalty. It was Sam Hurd and Roy flashing the "hook 'em horns" sign after the score. Really? You'd think the league had bigger fish to fry. Like helmet-to ... er, nevermind.

Posted by Josh Katzowitz

Now that former Browns RB Jerome Harrison has been traded to Philadelphia for RB Mike Bell – as detailed here – he can speak the truth about his wonderment of why Cleveland coach Eric Mangini didn’t play him.

Will Brinson has theorized all along that Harrison was holding Mangini’s family hostage in his basement, but apparently, that’s not the case, because Harrison couldn’t figure it out either. After all, Harrison rushed for 561 yards in the final three games of last season – three Browns wins, mind you – and might have saved Mangini’s job in the process.

In a phone conversation he had with the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot, Harrison said he wasn’t sure what the deal was.

"I didn't understand one part of how it happened,” Harrison said. “I didn't get into any fights with anybody and I didn't think there were any bad feelings toward me by any of the coaches or anything."

After the end of last season, the Browns drafted Montario Hardesty – who ended up tearing his ACL – and trading for Peyton Hillis. Once Hardesty went down, the starting job went to Hillis instead of Harrison.

"It was mind-boggling," said Harrison. "But it's the nature of the business. I didn't understand it. I'm not an angry person, so I'm not upset. But I was a little frustrated.

"I don't think I was what they wanted. People have different likes and dislikes. I don't think I was in their current plans or their future plans."

While Harrison didn’t make any overtly-obvious disparaging remarks about the team this season – though you didn’t have to be a mind-reader to figure out he was unhappy – it sounds like the organization wasn’t happy with what Harrison was saying either.

From the Plain Dealer:

Harrison, in the last year of his contract, did get 16 carries the following week against Kansas City, but lost a fumble. The Browns thought he was down, but Mangini stressed that it shouldn't have been on the ground in the first place. The next week, Harrison was inactive with a thigh injury in Baltimore while Hillis rushed for 144 yards.

A few days later, when Harrison was asked if his role might change, he said, "I didn't know what my role was in the first place." Asked about his carries, he said, "What carries?"

The comments didn't sit well with the Browns, but Harrison said he never heard directly of any displeasure. Instead, Mangini said publicly that if Harrison had a problem, his door was always open. Harrison never took him up on it.

The following game against Cincinnati, the Browns got their point across: Harrison stood on the sidelines the whole game, trotting out only for the final three plays in the victory formation.

After all that, though, Harrison leaves the team with positive thoughts. Perhaps it’s because he’s going to an NFC East contender where he’ll have a chance to contribute while leaving a Browns squad that will have to fight hard not to finish in the AFC North basement.

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