Gary Clark

Georgia Tech football coach Bobby Ross met with Clevelan owner Art Modell this week and said yesterday that he isn't going to take the Browns' head coaching job."I'm not interested in that job," Ross said. "The issue is dead. I'm emphatically here at Georgia Tech."I was talked to by the people at Cleveland about their job. We talked, and I told them I wasn't interested. I returned because I'm very satisfied with the support we've received here at Georgia Tech."Ross, who is 23-21-1 in four seasons at Georgia Tech, has been in New Orleans for the past few days attending the American Football Coaches Association meeting.

LOS ANGELES -- The Washington Redskins' hopes of getting Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard signed this weekend were apparently --ed last night.General manager Charley Casserly talked to Howard's agent, Leigh Steinberg, on the phone after the Redskins arrived here for today's game against the Los Angeles Raiders.But there was no change in either side's position. Casserly said he planned to talk to Steinberg again today, but wasn't optimistic a deal would be struck.The two sides are only $25,000 apart, but neither side is willing to budge.

DOLPHINS (1-0) vs. PACKERS (1-0) at MILWAUKEETime: 1 p.m., chs. 2, 4Line: Green Bay by 3Key injuries: Dolphins: LB Dwight Hollier (knee), WR O. J. McDuffie (knee) are out; LB Chuck Bullough (abdomen) is questionable. Packers: G Guy McIntyre (blood clot), LB Wayne Simmons (knee), CB Roland Mitchell (neck) are out; T Joe Sims (foot) is questionable.Outlook: Irving Fryar's 211 yards receiving and his 42.2 yards per catch lead the NFL. Green Bay FS George Teague has two interceptions. Dolphins QB Dan Marino proved last week he's not worried about his Achilles' tendon.

CARLISLE, Pa. -- The Washington Redskins' negotiations with wide receiver Desmond Howard and offensive lineman Jim Lachey are expected to resume tonight in Los Angeles.The players' agents, Leigh Steinberg and Jeff Moorad, plan to meet with general manager Charley Casserly after the Redskins arrive for tomorrow's preseason game against the Los Angeles Raiders.Steinberg and Moorad, who are based in Newport Beach, Calif., were at Redskins training camp Monday and Tuesday for negotiations, but no deals materialized.

The Washington Redskins, who are still waiting for Reggie White to decide if he's going to join the team, will sign their first free agent from another team today -- wide receiver Tim McGee of the Cincinnati Bengals.McGee, 28, will sign a three-year, $4.2 million deal to essentially replace Gary Clark, who got a three-year, $6 million deal from the Phoenix Cardinals.Meanwhile, the Redskins hope to find out in the next day or two if they're going to get White. General manager Charley Casserly said he plans to talk today with White's agent, Jimmy Sexton.

ASHBURN, Va. -- Gary Clark said yesterday that he probably wouldn't have left the Washington Redskins if coach Joe Gibbs hadn't retired.The wide receiver also suggested his poor relationship with general manager Charley Casserly contributed to his decision to sign with the Cardinals as a free agent for $2 million a year.Clark, who'll play his second game for the Cardinals against the Redskins at RFK Stadium on Sunday, said, "If Joe [Gibbs] had stayed, everything would have probably worked out. I'd probably still be with the Redskins.

Cornerback Terry Taylor of the Detroit Lions yesterday became the seventh National Football League player banned for life under the league's drug policy.The Lions, who acquired Taylor from the Seattle Seahawks last season for running back James Jones, said they will not appeal the league action, which was based on Taylor's third positive test for substance abuse. Taylor can reapply for admission to the league in a year."It's always a shock to find out something like that, and my heart is heavy and saddened.

Rosters for the AFC and NFC teams in the 1991 NFL Pro Bowl, to be played in Honolulu on Feb. 2 (x-starter; r-rookie):AFCOffenseQuarterbacks: x-Warren Moon, Houston; Jim Kelly, Buffalo.Running backs: x-Thurman Thomas, Buffalo; x-Marion Butts, San Diego; Bobby Humphrey, Denver; Bo Jackson, L.A. Raiders.Wide receivers: x-Andre Reed, Buffalo; x-Anthony Miller, San Diego; Drew Hill, Houston; Ernest Givins, Houston.Tight ends: x-Rodney Holman, Cincinnati; Ferrell Edmunds, Miami.Guards: x-Bruce Matthews, Houston; x-Mike Munchak, Houston;Steve Wisniewski, L.A. Raiders.

A position-by-position look at the Washington Redskins' roster battles going into the second exhibition game tonight in New England:Quarterback: Mark Rypien, Stan Humphries and Cary Conklin are the top 3. Jeff Rutledge would appear to be the odd man out, but the Redskins like to collect quarterbacks, and he could wind up on the IR list.Running backs: This position is set, with Earnest Byner, Gerald Riggs, Ricky Ervins, Brian Mitchell and John Settle. The only question is whether Settle will recover from a rib injury or will go on IR.Wide receivers: Art Monk, Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders are set, with Walter Stanley, Joe Johnson and Stephen Hobbs fighting for 1 or possibly 2 spots.

Site: Metrodome, Minneapolis, 1 p.m.TV: Channels 11, 9Radio: WBAL (1090 AM), WTEM (570 AM)Line: Redskins by 2 1/2Last week: The Redskins beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 16-12, and the Vikings defeated the Detroit Lions, 31-14.Last meeting: Although the Vikings routed the Redskins, 30-0, in their final exhibition game in August, the last game that meant something between these two teams was the 1987 NFC title game. The Redskins beat the Vikings, 17-10, a month after the Redskins won a 27-24 overtime verdict in the Metrodome in the regular-season finale.