League suspends Saints’ Thomas

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas was suspended Tuesday for the final four games of the regular season for violating the league’s steroid policy.

Thomas, backed by the team, appealed the suspension, which he said was caused by using asthma medication. He uses an inhaler daily and it apparently contained a banned steroid.

If New Orleans makes the playoffs, Thomas would be eligible to play. He can be added to the active roster Jan. 1, the day after the regular season ends.

*

The San Francisco 49ers waived safety Tony Parrish, who once started 121 consecutive games before falling out of favor this season.

The 49ers released Parrish to make room for veteran linebacker Jay Foreman, who was signed to fill in while starting linebacker Derek Smith is out because of a hamstring injury.

Parrish, who played four seasons with Chicago before signing with the 49ers in 2002, started every game in his first 7 1/2 NFL seasons before breaking a leg midway through last year.

Parrish lost his starting job to newcomer Mark Roman six weeks into this season, and was inactive in the 49ers’ last three games.

*

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward and safety Troy Polamalu each will sit out a second consecutive game because of knee injuries.

Ward and Polamalu sat out the Steelers’ 20-3 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday and won’t play against Cleveland on Thursday night.

Ward, who had sat out only one game in his nine-season career, had surgery last week to remove bone fragments from his left knee. Polamalu has a sprained medial collateral ligament.

Partly because of the short week of preparation before the Browns game, Coach Bill Cowher said that both starting receivers and safeties won’t play. Also out are receiver Cedrick Wilson (ankle) and safety Ryan Clark (groin), both of whom were injured against Tampa Bay.

Because of the injuries, second-year receiver Nate Washington and rookie Santonio Holmes will start, as will rookie safety Antonio Smith and veteran backup Tyrone Carter.

*

Another disappointing season for Tampa Bay receiver Michael Clayton came to an end when the Buccaneers said he’ll be sidelined for the remaining four games because of a knee injury.

Clayton, one of the NFL’s top rookies in 2004 when he had 80 receptions for 1,193 yards and seven touchdowns, finished this season with 33 receptions for 356 yards and one touchdown.

*

Seattle put reserve running back Josh Scobey on injured reserve and released quarterback Gibran Hamdan.... Green Bay claimed receiver Carlyle Holiday off waivers from Arizona and released receiver Chris Francies.... Buffalo put linebacker Angelo Crowell on season-ending injured reserve and signed linebacker Roy Manning.... Washington running back Clinton Portis had shoulder surgery that will require six months of rehabilitation.