HOCKEY

STILL-SUSPENDED SIMON SIGNS 1-YEAR DEAL WITH ISLANDERS

Chris Simon got a second chance from the Islanders. The rugged forward, still serving a record 25-game NHL suspension for a two-handed, swing-swinging attack against the Rangers’ Ryan Hollweg last season, re-signed with the Islanders yesterday.

Simon agreed to a one-year deal worth $475,000, but will be forced to sit out the first five games of the season for the vicious hit. He can earn another $325,000 in bonuses based on games played.

Simon missed the final 15 regular-season games in the Islanders’ late push to the playoffs and the entire five-game loss to Buffalo in the first-round postseason series.

Since he hadn’t missed a total of 25 games, the remaining five carry over to next season. The ban was the longest in terms of games missed in NHL history.

FOOTBALL

POLAMALU BECOMES WEALTHIEST STEELER EVER

Pittsburgh Steelers star safety Troy Polamalu signed a four-year contract extension yesterday worth $30.19 million that makes him the highest-paid player in team history and one of the NFL’s top-paid defensive backs.

The deal guarantees the Steelers will keep their most versatile defensive player through the 2011 season, when he will be 30, meaning Polamalu could negotiate another big-money contract before his NFL career ends.

Even if Polamalu said he didn’t want to leave as a free agent after this season and doesn’t expect to want to take off four years from now, either. Polamalu, an All-Pro safety in 2005, already was due to make $1,088,000 in salary and $1,722,000 in guaranteed bonuses this season.