Training Camp

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Artis Hicks is like the schoolchild who spent all semester learning Chapter 3 of the book, only to be told by the teacher that the test is going to be on Chapter 4. "You know?" Hicks said. "That's why you've got to know the whole book, I guess. " Hicks signed with the Washington Redskins in March and spent the entire offseason learning the position of right tackle, fully expecting that to be his spot in the starting lineup this season. Then came the change-up.

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Albert Haynesworth didn't show. Teammates called him selfish. Now the Washington Redskins want their money back. The Redskins are going to see if they can recoup all or part of a $21 million bonus from the disgruntled two-time All Pro defensive tackle, an official within the league with knowledge of the deliberations told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The team decided to take the action after Haynesworth failed to report for a mandatory two-day minicamp.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- Brett Favre is coming back for more. The 39-year-old quarterback turned his back on retirement for the second time in as many years, agreeing Tuesday to play for the Vikings. Favre took a morning flight on a team plane from Mississippi to Minnesota, arrived to cheering fans outside the team's practice facility and was in a helmet and pads less than 90 minutes later. His red practice jersey was the familiar No. 4, the same number he wore for years with the rival Green Bay Packers.

VIERA, Fla. (AP) -- Left-hander Odalis Perez was a no-show at the Washington Nationals' training camp Sunday, the last day for players to report without facing the possibility of disciplinary action. Perez has expressed his dissatisfaction with his contract since he gave his agent the OK to sign a non-guaranteed minor league deal with Washington on Feb. 5 that would pay him $850,000 if he makes the team, the same stipulation he faced last year. General manager Jim Bowden hasn't yet spoken with Perez, and doesn't know if he'll show.

For a while, the world of technology wasn't treating T.J. Hose very well. He sat in front of his computer Friday, watching the pick-by-pick progress of the second day of the Major League Baseball draft, hoping to see his future. Hose, a North Hagerstown graduate, just completed his four-year stay at East Carolina University in emphatic fashion and was hoping his name would show up for the chance to pitch professionally. Thirty rounds went by and so did 1,000 selections.

Tri-State area sports fans may remember that North Carolina State's David Thompson was the Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year in 1974. Few, however, recall that former North Hagerstown High School, Hagerstown Community College and Clemson University pitcher Steve Cline won similar honors as the ACC Baseball Player of the Year. While Thompson long ago left the game of basketball, the 55-year-old Cline remains in baseball. In fact, he is about to embark on his 35th season in professional baseball, and his 13th year with the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Jordan Steffy was sure of one thing when it came to becoming the University of Maryland's starting quarterback. He wasn't going to be an Indian giver. The redshirt junior entered spring practice and summer training camp as the top candidate to replace Sam Hollenbach as Maryland's quarterback. And as unofficial as it was, the last thing he was going to do was give the job back. "To be honest, I came into camp as the starter and approached it like it was my job," Steffy said calmly Tuesday during Maryland's weekly media conference, before he starts as the Terrapins' quarterback in Saturday's home and season opener against Villanova.

HALFWAY - Jon Witman's career NFL rushing total sounds like a good day for Jerome "The Bus" Bettis - 37 carries for 129 yards. But carrying the ball wasn't his job. As a blocking back, he crashed the line and wiped out defenders so Bettis, his Pittsburgh Steelers teammate, could gain yards. While signing autographs Saturday at Valley Mall, Witman - who last played for the Steelers six years ago - said he misses the camaraderie of the team and the thrill of Sunday games, but not the rigor of training camp.

Jon Witman's career NFL rushing total sounds like a good day for Jerome "The Bus" Bettis - 37 carries for 129 yards. But carrying the ball wasn't his job. As a blocking back, he crashed the line and wiped out defenders so Bettis, his Pittsburgh Steelers teammate, could gain yards. While signing autographs Saturday at Valley Mall, Witman - who last played for the Steelers six years ago - said he misses the camaraderie of the team and the thrill of Sunday games, but not the rigor of training camp.

ASHBURN, Va. - Clinton Portis' unique personality remains very much intact, and his off-the-cuff humor is still good for at least two laugh-out-loud moments in every interview. Yet the running back who reported for the first day of Washington Redskins training camp Friday was clearly dealing with the sting of a year gone bad. As if a season ruined by injuries wasn't enough, Portis found himself vilified during the offseason after he made light of the dogfighting investigation involving Michael Vick.