PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Montana Says He Expects to Start

Quarterback Joe Montana of the Kansas City Chiefs, sidelined the last three weeks because of a strained hamstring, believes he will start Sunday against Buffalo.

“I would expect to, unless something drastic happens,” Montana said Friday before practice. “But there’s no telling.”

Coach Marty Schottenheimer said he won’t make a decision until shortly before kickoff. But all signs point to Montana making his first start since Oct. 31. Montana, not Dave Krieg, has been taking the majority of snaps during practice.

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Art Monk, the NFL’s all-time leading receiver, will be benched by the Washington Redskins in favor of 1992 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard, who has 12 catches for 137 yards in two seasons.

“Last year was a total washout for him,” Coach Richie Petitbon said of Howard. “He probably should have been in Michigan. He’s a young kid.”