By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff, 1/31/2002

EW ORLEANS - Terry Glenn is not here in body, but he's still making news.

The suspended New England receiver yesterday sued the NFL in US District Court in Manhattan saying the league discriminated against him for a disability that prevented him from following the league's substance abuse policy.

The suit was filed by Glenn's legal team at Williams and Connolly in Washington.

Glenn claims he suffers from chronic depression, a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Glenn served a four-game suspension at the start of the season for failure to comply with the drug policy - a missed drug test. Glenn's firm has documented evidence he went through proper procedures to take a test while on personal business in Austin, Texas, last April.

The timing of the suit is curious as the Patriots prepare for the Super Bowl, but according to Glenn's agent, Jim Gould, ''we had 45 days to file the suit and we went up to the 45th day.''

That's not the only business involving Glenn. The NFL Players Association has several grievances pending on behalf of Glenn that may be heard soon after the Super Bowl. Glenn wants the grievances expedited so he will know whether he's entitled to more than $8 million in bonuses withheld because of his suspensions.

Coach Bill Belichick suspended Glenn for the playoffs for failure to comply with team rules and missed meetings and practices.

Despite not being with the team, Glenn may be eligible to collect all or part of the postseason share each Super Bowl participant receives.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, likely four game checks and other money lost because of his suspension. It claims Glenn has suffered from lost employment, pain, suffering, humiliation, embarrassment, and damage to his reputation.

If you beat them up, they can't run past you. Or something like that.

The Rams receivers are fast, but the Patriots have a rough and tumble secondary. Safeties Lawyer Milloy and Tebucky Jones can leave you feeling as if you've been run over by a truck.

''They're fast on grass but probably faster on turf,'' said Jones. ''The biggest key will be getting the corners up and pressing them. Hopefully, that will slow them down. They'll probably show us some different formations. We have to throw off their timing.''

Jones remembers the last meeting Nov. 18, a 24-17 Rams victory in Foxborough, which Jones concedes, ''We played too soft. We probably should have been more aggressive on the line. A lot of times we did not throw off their timing and Kurt Warner threw off a three-step drop a lot. We really didn't prepare for that.''

How did he get the name Romeo?

''The name draws some attention,'' said Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel. ''I enjoy the name. My father, who was a veteran Army man, gave it to me. He had been over to Paris, and he likes poetry a little bit. He came back, I arrived, and therefore you got Romeo.'' ... How offensive coordinator Charlie Weis greeted the media at his designated table in the Fairmont Hotel: ''Good morning. I'm Charlie Weis, and if you don't know, this is my table. Let's get this out of the way now: There's one QB on our team who's beaten Kurt Warner twice, and that's Damon Huard. He beat him twice in the World League, so we're starting him.'' ... According to the Patriots' pool report, Matt Light(ankle) worked out yesterday. Belichick said Light is scheduled to play Sunday ... Veteran defensive end Anthony Pleasant left practice for a few minutes to have his back stretched, but Belichick did not consider it an injury ... Punter Ken Walter participated in drills. He missed the last two days to be with his wife, who gave birth to a son Wednesday ... Fox broadcasters Pat Summerall and John Madden were at practice. Patriots owner Bob Kraft spotted Summerall, who is broadcasting his final football game, and said, ''Hopefully we'll give you a memorable game for your last one, like our last game against the Raiders.'' ... The Patriots resume practice today at 2 p.m.