Pro football
BURRESS A NO-SHOW: Wide receiver Plaxico Burress was a no-show again when the Pittsburgh Steelers resumed their offseason workouts Tuesday. Burress was fined earlier this month for missing a mandatory minicamp.
"I thought he was going to be here, but obviously he's not," said Hines Ward, the Steelers' other starting receiver. "It's sad. I don't think it had to come to this . . . I've got to prepare like we're going into the season right now without Plax; we don't know what is going to happen."
Coach Bill Cowher didn't discuss Burress' latest absence, leaving the field about halfway through the hour-long workout without speaking with reporters. However, Cowher was visibly displeased when Burress was the only player to skip the team's post-draft minicamp May 7-9, saying, "I'm very disappointed in his decision, and we are ready to move on with or without him."
WILLIAMS QUIET: Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams refused Tuesday to discuss whether he violated the NFL's substance-abuse policy a second time by using marijuana.
"No one in the NFL can talk about anything regarding the substance-abuse program," Williams said during a media availability before the team began a three-day quarterback school at its practice facility. "League-wide, it's a confidentiality thing . . . I'm here to answer questions about football."
Three South Florida newspapers quoted unidentified sources last week saying Williams tested positive for marijuana and faced a fine of at least $650,000 for violating the substance-abuse policy for the second time since joining the Dolphins in 2002.
CB SEEKS TRADE: Cornerback Mike McKenzie has hired a new agent to help secure a trade from the Green Bay Packers. Drew Rosenhaus told The Associated Press that McKenzie hired him Monday, and he received permission from the Packers that same day to speak with other teams about a trade.
Arena football
NBC PACT EXTENDED: The Arena Football League and NBC agreed Monday to extend their broadcasting agreement through 2006. The league and the network are currently in the second season of a two-year deal for which NBC paid no rights fee. The agreement also allows the network to share in league revenues.
Skiing
9 SKIERS ADVANCE: The U.S. Ski Team has promoted three Utah athletes for the 2004-05 season following the release of the May 1 FIS points list. Promoted to the Men's B Team were Justin Johnson, 26, Park City; and TJ Lanning, 19, Park City. Named to the development team was Mitt Coats,17; Salt Lake City.
Tennis
HENIN-HARDENNE TO PLAY: Justine Henin-Hardenne will play in the French Open after all. The world's No. 1 player said Tuesday she would defend her title at Roland Garros even though she hasn't fully recovered from a viral infection. The French Open starts Monday, and the Belgian has been trying to get in shape.
Olympics
SECURITY ASSURANCES: Athens organizers offered the IOC more assurances Tuesday that "everything humanly possible" was being done to safeguard the Olympics.
A week after International Olympic Committee inspectors gave the Greeks a strong vote of confidence, Athens organizing chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki briefed the executive board on final venue preparations and security measures for the Aug. 13-29 games.
"If preparations continue at this pace then everything needed for successful games will be in place," said Denis Oswald, the IOC's chief overseer of the Athens Games.