FOOTBALL

WILLIAMS WANTS TO REJOIN DOLPHINS

Ricky Williams wants to rejoin the Miami Dolphins and has asked the NFL how soon he can return, his agent said yesterday.

It’s unclear whether Williams must serve a suspension the rest of this season for repeated violations of the league drug program. He has asked the NFL for a hearing to clarify his status, but no date has been set.

The 2002 NFL rushing champion stunned the Dolphins when he retired just before training camp in late July. On September 24, Williams was ordered by an arbitrator to repay more than $8.6 million to the team for breaching his contract.

A Dolphins source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the team’s understanding is that Williams can’t play this year because of his drug-program violations.

Williams and the Dolphins traded long distance barbs in the days after he quit. But the Dolphins’ 0-4 start would likely make them more inclined to take him back.

NFL SUSPENDS ONTERRIO SMITH FOR FOUR GAMES

Vikings running back Onterrio Smith will miss the next four games serving a suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The league told Smith this summer he tested positive for marijuana, and he already was in the league’s substance-abuse program for at least one previous positive test.

Smith’s suspension had been on hold pending an appeal, but the league notified him yesterday he must begin serving the suspension. Smith will be eligible to play again November 8 at Indianapolis. Smith has run for 198 yards and has a team-high 223 yards receiving. He’s been especially valuable while the Vikings’ no. 1 back, Michael Bennett, recovers from a knee injury.

RAVENS’ LEWIS TO ENTER GUILTY PLEA IN DRUG CASE

Baltimore Ravens’ running back Jamal Lewis has agreed to plead guilty to a charge in connection with his federal drug conspiracy case, an aide to the presiding judge said yesterday.

A source familiar with the plea negotiations has told the Associated Press that lawyers for Lewis have been negotiating a deal that would allow him to serve jail time in the off-season. Under the deal being considered, Lewis would plead guilty to using a cell phone in violation of federal law. He would serve four months in a minimum-security prison and two months in a halfway house, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

BASKETBALL

PIPPEN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Standing before the six championship trophies he won with the Chicago Bulls during the 1990s, seven-time All Star Scottie Pippen announced his retirement from the NBA yesterday after a 17-year pro career. Pippen, 39, chosen one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players in 1996 for the league’s 50th anniversary, was known for his all-around play – especially his long armed defense at 6-foot-7 against some of the league’s best scorers.

Pippen’s tenure in Chicago included two “three-peat” championship runs, interrupted by Michael Jordan’s unsuccessful foray into baseball. The 1995-96 Bulls are widely considered to have been the best basketball team ever, with a 72-10 regular-season record that may never be surpassed.

After 11 years with the Bulls, Pippen left after the 1999 lockout and played one year in Houston and four more in Portland. Before the 2003 season, Pippen returned to Chicago with a two-year, $10 million dollar contract, but knee surgery kept him out for most of the season. Pippen said at the press conference yesterday that his knees would not have allowed him to play his best in 2004-05.

Pippen finished his career with a 16.1 scoring average to go with 6.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has played in more postseason games than Pippen’s 208.

CASSELL A NO-SHOW AT T-WOLVES CAMP

Sam Cassell was a no-show on the first day of training camp yesterday, sending a message to the Minnesota Timberwolves that he was displeased about not getting a contract extension.

Cassell’s contract calls for him to be paid $5.65 million this season and $6.1 million next season. He had career bests in scoring (19.8 points per game) and shooting (48.8%) during the regular season and made his first All-Star team in his first season with Minnesota, his 10th in the league.

Kevin McHale, the Timberwolves’ vice president of basketball operations, said Cassell should have been at camp. “Sam’s under contract, we expect him to be here.”

ANOTHER CHANCE FOR GRIFFIN

Former Nets forward Eddie Griffin, who is better known for his troubles off the court, agreed to terms with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team announced yesterday. Griffin was released by the Nets in February, less than two months after signing with the team in hopes of resurrecting his career. The Houston Rockets cut him in December.

BASEBALL

TIGERS RETAIN TRAMMELL THROUGH 2006

The Detroit Tigers exercised their option on manager Alan Trammell’s three-year contract yesterday, keeping him with the team through the 2006 season. The Tigers went 72-90 last season after losing 119 games in his first year. Hired as manager by the Tigers in 2002, Trammell played 20 seasons in Detroit and batted .285 with 185 homers and 1,003 RBI.

– Associated Press