FOXBORO — The Patriots have announced a 9 a.m. conference call with safety Rodney Harrison on Wednesday, and it is a near certainty that the 15-year veteran safety will announce his retirement from the NFL.

Harrison said earlier this year that he would make a decision by June 1 as to whether he would return to the field or begin his second career, most likely as a broadcaster. The former fifth-round draft pick, who made earning a spot on the 53-man roster his top priority every year, even as he gained stature as one of the best in the business, has worked with the NFL Network and NBC in recent months. The candid demeanor he had with reporters as a player could serve him well in the role of an analyst.

Leading to the belief that Harrison will hang them up, on Tuesday afternoon NBC Sports sent out an e-mail announcing its own Wednesday conference call, for chairman Dick Ebersol to introduce the network's new NFL talent.

The Boston Globe, citing a source, reported Tuesday that Harrison will retire.

Then-Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer believed Harrison's best days were behind him when he released him in 2003. Pats head coach Bill Belichick thought otherwise, and Harrison brought his hard-hitting ways to the Patriots, helping the team to its last two Super Bowl championships.

The image of Harrison, tears streaming down his face and his broken arm in a sling after Super Bowl XXXVIII, is one Patriots fans won't soon forget.

Perhaps the only disappointing part for Harrison is that he wasn't able to leave the field on his own terms, or even under his own power. He suffered a torn quadriceps on the final play of the third quarter of New England's win over Denver last Oct. 20, an injury that ended his season and likely influenced his decision to call it a career.

In an informal poll of Pro Football Hall of Fame voters by the Journal last year, many felt Harrison is definitely worthy of discussion, but several pointed to the lack of safeties currently in the Hall, as well as Harrison's lack of Pro Bowl selections (two) as detriments to his enshrinement.

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Nose tackle Vince Wilfork was once again a no-show for Tuesday's organized team activity session at Gillette Stadium, the second such veteran/full-team practice media have been allowed to sit in on this offseason.

Wilfork is scheduled to make an appearance on behalf of his charity on Wednesday at the Yale Appliance in Boston. He is currently holding an online raffle, with a prize of 2009 Patriots season tickets, a barbecue for the winner and five friends, which Wilfork will attend, and a Weber grill.

Expect Wilfork to get grilled about his contract situation by the media in attendance.

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In all, 78 of the 91 players on the Pats' roster were in attendance on Tuesday. Tedy Bruschi, who was absent last week, likely due to his mother's death, returned to the field.

Those missing, besides Wilfork: defensive linemen Ty Warren and Jarvis Green, linebacker Jerod Mayo, safeties Brandon Meriweather and Ray Ventrone, running back Sammy Morris, cornerback Mike Richardson, tackle Mark LeVoir, receivers Tyree Barnes and Shun White, and injured rookies Tyrone McKenzie and Brandon Tate.

For the record, there were far fewer media types this time around than at last Thursday's session, when Tom Brady was in a jersey in front of cameras for the first time since his Sept. 7 injury.

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• The 90-minute session seemed upbeat and lighthearted at times. There was a lot of laughter and joking, particularly among the receivers and quarterbacks. After Brady completed a pass to Randy Moss early on in a route drill, he yelled, "That's perfect, Randolph!" Earlier in the same drill, Brady was giving Joey Galloway specific instructions on how he'd like to see a route run.

• Galloway, Wes Welker and Kevin Faulk all fielded punts, and did so one-handed, with two balls tucked into one arm while they tried to catch the ball with the other one.

• Team owner Robert Kraft walked onto the field about 45 minutes into the practice and watched the rest of the session from the sideline.

• Matt Caserio continues to play a big role in these practices, mostly with the offense. The personnel chief was right in the mix again Tuesday, though QBs coach/de-facto offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien typically directs the offense in terms of plays.

• Richard Seymour batted down a Kevin O'Connell pass during 11-on-11 work, though he failed to haul in the ball for a turnover.

smanza@projo.com