Karl Anthony

The Baltimore Football Club will break camp at Towson State today after concluding two-a-day practices yesterday, and veteran defensive back Lester Smith won't miss the back-to-back sessions."

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Quarterback Matt Dunigan couldn't remember the last time a goal post should have been called for pass interference.Punter and holder Bob Cameron was at a loss to explain how a series of weird occurrences kept him from filling in his teammates at a time when communication was essential.But strange as they may be for an exacting team such as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, both incidents proved to be turning points in a 14-12 loss to the Baltimore CFLs that was full of them.

SHREVEPORT, La. -- The Baltimore Stallions might have visited Independence Stadium for the final time last night.That's because the Shreveport Pirates, stung by a major drop in attendance and ticket revenue, are thinking about moving.Club president Lonie Glieberman, the son of owner Bernie Glieberman, told the Shreveport Times yesterday that the Pirates expect to lose $2.5 million this season, a year after the team suffered a $3.5 million loss in its first season. Before that, Glieberman lost $8 million over two seasons before selling the Ottawa Rough Riders.

EDMONTON, Alberta -- Given the chance to do it over again, Elfrid Payton would have stayed on the sidelines.But after watching teammates Tracey Gravely and Peter Tuipulotu drill Birmingham linebacker Mike James during a Baltimore punt return early in the second half of the Stallions' 36-8 rout Saturday, Payton said he couldn't contain his excitement. Especially since Payton and James had been jawing at each other since early in the game."I just like to talk," Payton said.After the punt return, Payton ran on the field, fist pumping, congratulating Gravely and Tuipulotu after their double-teaming block on James.

The Baltimore Football Club moved to shore up its wounded secondary yesterday by signing defensive backs Gary Wilkerson and Corris Ervin and adding them to the team's practice roster.Wilkerson, 6 feet, 180 pounds, who was a college teammate of Baltimore receiver Mike Alexander at Penn State and was drafted by the NFL Cleveland Browns in 1988, spent the previous five seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. This year, he was traded to Memphis for the first pick in the Las Vegas dispersal draft, then went to Shreveport last month, before the Pirates waived him a week ago. He has 216 tackles and 15 interceptions in his CFL career.

Baltimore's defense rested Wednesday night.Not all night, of course. Just when the CFLs' offense was pushing the Hamilton Tiger-Cats all over the Memorial Stadium field for 589 yards and 30 points. It was rest in the right places."The defense wasn't on the field that long," cornerback Karl Anthony said yesterday about the CFLs' 30-15 victory. "There were a lot of two-and-outs. That's one of the reasons we played well."After three weeks of relentless retreat, the Baltimore defense went on the attack.

PanhandlingTwo weeks ago, the Sacramento Gold Miners dealt running back Mike Pringle to the CFL Colts for future considerations in a curious trade. Curious because Pringle accounted for 1,438 all-purpose yards last season and helped the Sacramento Surge to the World League title in 1992.When Pringle showed up with the Colts veterans at camp yesterday, he still was perplexed about the deal. "I don't want to be mad at Kay, but I am," he said of Miners coach Kay Stephenson, who triggered the trade.

CALGARY, Alberta -- The other Flutie was the star yesterday as the B.C. Lions fought their way into the Grey Cup.Darren Flutie, the younger brother of Calgary Stampeders star quarterback Doug, caught a 4-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the game to give the Lions a 37-36 win over the favored Stampeders in the CFL Western Division final."

Looking goodThere was something to savor for everyone in the CFL Colts' scripted intrasquad scrimmage at York, Pa. yesterday:* Running back Mike Pringle ran for two touchdowns in the no-tackle workout, one for 60 yards. Quarterbacks Tracy Ham (13-for-20) and John Congemi ( 17-for-33, 2 interceptions) had their moments in the passing game, too.* The defense picked off three more passes, including one that veteran cornerback Karl Anthony returned for a touchdown four plays into the mock game.

Charles Anthony could have been in Seattle yesterday, learning a new defense.Then again, he could have been in Cleveland, scoping out the Dawg Pound. Or Atlanta, inspecting the Georgia Dome.Instead, he was at Towson State for introductions and reacquaintances.The last of the Canadian Football League free agents to sign with the CFL Colts, Anthony participated in workouts for the first time with nine other arriving veterans.Anthony was in Baltimore, he said, because none of the NFL teams he talked to would give him enough money or could assure him that he would be around come September.