PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Haselrig Explains Absence

Pro Bowl guard Carlton Haselrig says he skipped the Pittsburgh Steelers’ minicamp in late May to attend the Betty Ford Clinic in Palm Springs after a drunk-driving arrest. Haselrig, an NCAA wrestling champion from Pittsburgh Johnstown who did not play college football, said an Allegheny County judge who sentenced him to 48 hours in jail gave him credit for time spent at the Ford clinic. Haselrig also was fined $500 and ordered to attend a safe-driving school.

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With Emmitt Smith still holding out, the Dallas Cowboys are holding auditions for running back prospects. They might have found one in wide receiver Mike Beasley. During the annual Blue-White scrimmage in 96-degree weather at Nelson Field in Austin, Beasley gained 47 yards in 14 carries and scored on a 12-yard run. Beasley, from West Virginia, was on the Cowboys’ practice squad last season. Also in the scrimmage before a crowd of 7,500, free-agent running back Judd Garrett of Princeton gained 107 yards in 21 carries, and his brother Jason, a quarterback, threw short touchdown passes to Jimmy Smith and Tyrone Williams.

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The Miami Dolphins signed receiver-kick returner O.J. McDuffie, the 25th picked in the NFL draft, to a four-year contract, reportedly worth $2.76 million, including a $1-million signing bonus. McDuffie will join the team for the start of training camp today. . . . The Washington Redskins signed receiver Art Monk to a one-year contract worth $1.1 million, equal to what he got last year but with up to $300,000 more in performance bonuses. Monk, 35, has been told by Coach Richie Petitbon that he probably won’t be starting this season. . . . Indianapolis quarterback Jeff George did not show up at camp Sunday and faced a $4,000 fine for the fourth consecutive day.