After the team asserted that he had refused to practice, Johnson went out for the afternoon workout, caught a few passes during drills, then removed his helmet and covered his head with a white towel, a signal that he was done.

Johnson was the center of attention from the moment he joined his teammates on the practice field - 12 minutes after the session started - until the day ended with no resolution to the overriding question for the Pro Bowl receiver and his team.

Johnson skipped the voluntary offseason workouts, but was required under threat of fine to attend the 3-day minicamp that started yesterday.

The team released a statement yesterday saying Johnson had passed his physical, didn't report any problems to the doctor and was cleared for practice.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus disputed the team's assessment. He said Johnson has a sore back, but that's not why he's sitting out. The agent said Johnson has an ankle problem that could require surgery.

The club acknowledged that Johnson was bothered by a sore ankle last year and that the team recommended he have surgery to clean it out at the end of the season. Johnson chose not to have surgery. The club said the ankle isn't bad enough to keep him off the field. Johnson declined comment.

Noteworthy

"Either you are with us or you are against us," O'Hara said between practices. "And I think the players are doing a good job of focusing in on their daily tasks and their jobs, and as long as we all continue to do that, this team will succeed.''

Asked about Burress, O'Hara said, "I think there is a right way to do things. I have always felt that as a player, you go out there and put your best foot forward and, as long as you are giving 100 percent effort every time, you'll be taken care of."

* Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said surgery forced him to miss 2 days of minicamp, although he wouldn't say what was wrong.

* Former Penn State player Mitch Frerotte, an offensive lineman who played in three Super Bowls for the Buffalo Bills, has died in Kittanning, Pa. He was 43. His cousin is Minnesota quarterback Gus Frerotte.

* A man accused of planning a massacre at this year's Super Bowl was convicted of federal charges. Kurt Havelock faced six counts of mailing threatening communications in U.S. District Court in Phoenix.

* A cable snapped as a construction crane was being lifted off the ground at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium, injuring at least three people, a team spokesman said. *