Determined to apologize to the man whose face he tore open with his cleat, the Tennessee Titans defensive tackle spent Tuesday trying to reach Dallas centre Andre Gurode's cell phone, and his agent said he won't give up until he does.

``Albert will continue until he gets through to him,'' said his agent, Chad Speck.

Haynesworth was suspended five games without pay Monday by the NFL for kicking Gurode's helmet off, then swiping his cleated foot on the centre's face while he lay on the ground. Haynesworth was ejected and apologized immediately after the 45-14 loss to Dallas on Sunday.

Speck said he's given his client's cell phone number to Gurode's agent and the Cowboys, hoping Gurode either would call Haynesworth _ or at least pick up his calls to hear his apology personally. Gurode's agent, Kennard McGuire, did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Gurode, who needed 30 stitches to repair the cuts, plans to talk with his family about whether or not to press charges, his agent told Nashville police Monday.

The Dallas Morning News reported Tuesday that Gurode still had blurry vision Monday. Gurode said after the game Sunday that he would have gone back on the field if his vision had been clear.

But fans and even people who pay no attention to sports condemned Haynesworth's actions; many said five games wasn't enough. Haynesworth was replaced by a rookie teammate on his weekly radio show Tuesday night, which airs live from a shopping mall south of Nashville.

Speck had no comment when asked if Haynesworth might appeal the unprecedented suspension, and Haynesworth said after the game he deserved to be suspended, whatever the punishment was.

``For what I did, whatever they give me, I deserve it. I did it, and it's wrong,'' Haynesworth said Sunday.

The NFL Players Association is studying the suspension, which is more than twice as long as the previous punishment for on-field behaviour.

``We're just in the fact-finding stage right now,'' NFLPA spokesman Carl Francis said.

The Titans spent Tuesday trying to find a replacement for Haynesworth on the defensive line. His suspension leaves Tennessee with veteran Robaire Smith, Randy Starks in his third season and rookie Jesse Mahelona, who sprained a knee against Dallas.

``I let my team down,'' Haynesworth said Sunday. ``I'm not saying that I'm the heart of this team, but I definitely let the team down.''

The Titans asked the league to clarify the restrictions that would be on Haynesworth during the suspension, which will keep him off the field until Nov. 19, when the Titans visit Philadelphia. Players suspended for substance abuse violations cannot work out with their teams nor attend, but it was not clear if those rules applied to Haynesworth.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said because there is no precedent for a suspension of this length for on-field activities, the NFL was researching what might apply and will get back to the team.