"Willie Parker said he doesn't think he will need surgery to repair the labrum that was torn Nov. 3 in Washington -- an injury that occurred when his shoulder popped out of joint and caused the two-time Pro Bowl running back to miss one game.

Parker also said he no longer uses the protective shoulder harness he wore for a few games because it restricts his ability to run, even though he rushed for 115 yards the first time he wore it in the Nov. 16 game against the San Diego Chargers.

That was the previous time he had rushed for more than 100 yards before ending the regular season with 116 yards against the Cleveland Browns.

"It lasted probably two games," Parker said, pointing to the shoulder harness that was sitting on a shelf in his locker. "It's restrictive, being a running back. I can't move around. I had to get rid of it."

Parker cited an example against the Browns in which he used a stiff-arm to help break a 34-yard touchdown run -- something he said he wouldn't have been able to do if he had been wearing the harness.

"I wouldn't be able to do that; I'd have to run like this," Parker said, pretending to make his body rigid. "So I had to take it off.""