JASON AVANT doesn't run real fast and he isn't a diva. Somehow, Avant has overcome these potentially crippling NFL wideout handicaps to become a solid cog for the Eagles, who yesterday rewarded him with a 5-year contract worth as much as $18 million, with $8 million guaranteed, and a $7 million payout this season, a source close to the situation said.

It seems so improbable to some of the 76ers who lived through the 9-73 season of 1972-73. The NBA has expanded from what was then a 17-team league to 30. The talent pool has been spread out and diluted.

A defense attorney hired by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger yesterday disputed a college student's claim that he sexually assaulted her at a Milledgeville, Ga., nightclub.

From: Gonzalez, John To: Ford, Bob; Fox, Ashley Subject: Birds QBs At the Maxwell Awards, Andy Reid said he's in a terrific position with three QBs who have played and played well as starters in the NFL. He added that he's not in a hurry to get rid of any of them, and reiterated that Donovan McNabb is his quarterback. Meanwhile, the team picked up the $1.5 million roster bonus on Michael Vick.

Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens are getting the band back together. Instead of teaming up on the football field, however, the quarterback and wide receiver are joining forces on the basketball court.

While several NFL teams have methodically gone about signing top-tier free agents, the Eagles instead have addressed some in-house bookkeeping in the last week.

Maybe someday we'll know what derailed Reggie Brown's career with the Eagles. For now, all we know is that Brown is out of roster purgatory, and on his way to Tampa.

ON JAN. 26 of this year, in an upset of epic proportions, Chase Utley's photo appeared on the back page of this newspaper the same day a story comparing Donovan McNabb and Brett Favre appeared inside.

Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens are getting the band back together. Instead of teaming up on the football field, however, the quarterback and wide receiver are joining forces on the basketball court.

ON JAN. 26 of this year, in an upset of epic proportions, Chase Utley's photo appeared on the back page of this newspaper the same day a story comparing Donovan McNabb and Brett Favre appeared inside.

It seems so improbable to some of the 76ers who lived through the 9-73 season of 1972-73. The NBA has expanded from what was then a 17-team league to 30. The talent pool has been spread out and diluted.

JASON AVANT doesn't run real fast and he isn't a diva. Somehow, Avant has overcome these potentially crippling NFL wideout handicaps to become a solid cog for the Eagles, who yesterday rewarded him with a 5-year contract worth as much as $18 million, with $8 million guaranteed, and a $7 million payout this season, a source close to the situation said.

While several NFL teams have methodically gone about signing top-tier free agents, the Eagles instead have addressed some in-house bookkeeping in the last week.

A defense attorney hired by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger yesterday disputed a college student's claim that he sexually assaulted her at a Milledgeville, Ga., nightclub.

Last September after the Eagles got rid of Hank Baskett, Reggie Brown admitted that he was torn about not being the wide receiver who was sent packing.