FOOTBALL

IN A SURPRISE MOVE, HOLMES TO REPORT TO CHIEFS CAMP

Three-time Pro Bowl running back Priest Holmes will report to the Kansas City Chiefs’ camp Saturday in a surprise development that comes 21 months after he was knocked out of football by a devastating hit.

The return of the team’s career leading rusher adds an interesting twist to the situation surrounding Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson, who has vowed to hold out of camp until he gets a new contract.

Ironically, the Chiefs drafted Johnson over the objection of then-coach Dick Vermeil in the first round in 2003 partly to gain leverage over Holmes, who was involved in his own contract dispute at the time.

FALCONS RB WARRICK DUNN TO MISS 3 TO 4 WEEKS

As if they didn’t have enough troubles, the Atlanta Falcons disclosed yesterday that running back Warrick Dunn will miss three to four weeks after having back surgery.

Dunn, who rushed for a teamhigh 1,140 yards last year, hurt his back during off-season workouts and had the surgery on Saturday. The team held off revealing the news while it dealt with the federal indictment of quarterback Michael Vick on charges related to dog-fighting.

Vick, indicted last week, was barred from training camp by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell while the league looks into possible violations of its new personal conduct policy. Meanwhile, the Falcons have another major hole to fill during the preseason while Dunn recovers.

BRIGGS AGREES TO 1-YEAR DEAL WITH BEARS

Lance Briggs is going to play and not sit. The Chicago Bears Pro Bowl linebacker agreed to a one-year, $7.2 million contract yesterday as the team’s franchise player. Unhappy when he was initially given the tag, Briggs had threatened to sit out the season but reached an agreement one day before the Bears are to report to training camp.

BASEBALL

SCHILLING CRITICAL OF BONDS AND McGWIRE

Curt Schilling says that Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire’s refusals to address accusations of steroids use are tantamount to admissions.

“If someone wrote that stuff about me and I didn’t sue their (butt) off, am I not admitting that there’s some legitimacy to it?” he said on HBO’s “Costas Now.”

When asked about Schilling’s remarks before the Giants played the Atlanta Braves last night, Bonds responded: “Don’t worry, my day will come.”

Schilling said “this will be the steroids era forever” and proposed that Jose Canseco and Rafael Palmeiro should be punished for steroids use.