Raheem Brock

RE DAN GROSS' July 9 item on me: It's unfortunate that my ex-wife has chosen to discuss such a private matter in a public forum, especially when the actions that have been attributed to me are both unfounded and untrue. I recently suffered a personal loss (my 12-year-old sister was killed in an auto accident in which additional family members were critically injured). This has accounted for most of my time since June 29, and I have not been in a position to respond to Deziree Williams' allegations until now. All outstanding legal issues concerning Ms. Williams and me will be addressed privately through counsel.

H ANK BASKETT doesn't leave his woman stranded on base. The Eagles wide receiver twice batted home his fiancee, Kendra Wilkinson , Saturday evening at the Poochman Celebrity Softball Classic, at Campbell's Field, in Camden. Wilkinson, the Playboy Playmate and former "Girls Next Door" star, who soon debuts a new E! show "Kendra," hit two singles off Your Humble Narrator. Eagles tight end Brent Celek also pounded a few into the outfield at the game, a charity event organized by 100.3 The Beat DJ Pooch , aka Derek Frith, who celebrates a birthday today.

If food is your thing, Terrance Knighton insists the place to be this weekend is his grandmother's house in Connecticut. That's where Temple's 6-3 senior defensive tackle plans to hang out, along with his "mom, brothers, aunt and girlfriend," as they watch the NFL draft together to finally find out where his immediate future is headed. "She'll [cook] everything in the fridge, Saturday and Sunday," Knighton predicted, no doubt from repeated experiences. So, it'll pretty much be like having Thanksgiving squared?

Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El were unable to practice again yesterday, putting Washington in a perilous position at receiver for tomorrow's game against the Eagles. Moss is sidelined with a bruised heel and is listed as questionable on the injury report, but neither Moss nor coach Joe Gibbs sounded optimistic that it would heal sufficiently before game time. Randle El has had a relapse of a nagging hamstring injury. He is listed as probable. The Redskins are the only team in the NFL without a touchdown pass to a wide receiver this season.

If the Eagles had any interest in Reggie Wayne, they're disappointed today. The Indianapolis Colts' wide receiver, who would have become a free agent, agreed to a $39 million, 6-year contract yesterday, a move that makes him one of the NFL's highest-paid receivers and allows the Colts to use their franchise tag on another player if they choose. Wayne's deal includes a $13.5 million signing bonus. "He's thrilled, he could not think more highly of the owner, Jimmy [Irsay], [president]

Corey Simon got the two things he wanted: financial security and an outstanding opportunity to return to the Super Bowl. The former Eagles defensive tackle received them yesterday when he agreed to a five-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts. The deal came four days after the Eagles had removed the franchise tag from him, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent. Financial details of the agreement were not immediately available, but Simon was more than satisfied.

Carolina Panthers running back Lamar Smith was charged with drunken driving yesterday, the latest legal embarrassment for the team. Smith, 31, was charged with driving while impaired, speeding, and reckless driving, according to a deputy with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Department. He was released after posting a $1,200 bond. He could not be reached for comment and team spokesman Charlie Dayton declined to comment. Smith has started in all 11 games this season and rushed for 737 yards with seven touchdowns.

The Indianapolis Colts have the second-ranked pass defense in the NFL, so logic suggests the Eagles will stick with their recent approach and keep on running the ball. Right? Well, maybe not. Those league rankings are based purely on yardage. The Colts haven't given up a lot of passing yards, especially lately, because opponents have gotten big leads against them. "It's partly an offshoot of that, I would think," Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress said. "If you get behind, people are going to run the ball to run out the clock.

Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Brentson Buckner was suspended for four games yesterday for violating the NFL's steroid policy. Buckner is a vital part of Carolina's defense, which ranks fourth in the league. He has four sacks, 23 tackles and a forced fumble. The suspension will cost him $250,000 to $300,000 in salary and incentives, according to Buckner's agent, George Mavrikes. Mavrikes said Buckner took a diet pill before training camp with an ingredient that's on the league's list of banned substances.

In the NFL, one player's misfortune is another's opportunity. Defensive end Daryl Whittington didn't get any invitations to training camp last summer after finishing his college career at Missouri. He spent the last year working out, convinced that he was at least as good an NFL prospect as his brother Bernard, who plays for the Cincinnati Bengals. When he didn't get a call before the current training camps began opening, Whittington began to wonder whether he'd ever get a chance.