Vikings’ Underwood to Return

Dimitrius Underwood said he will return to the Minnesota Vikings training camp after spending the last week trying to decide between his love for football and his obligation to the ministry, according to a report Monday night.

Underwood, the Vikings’ first-round draft choice, said he decided to return after having a 75-minute phone conversation with former Green Bay Packer Reggie White, an ordained minister, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis said in its online version.

Underwood said he would accept whatever consequences he might face from the Vikings. White encouraged Underwood to return.

“I totally understand what this young man has been going through, and he is to be commended for having the strength to go through all of this,” White told the newspaper.

The 22-year-old defensive end walked out of the Viking training camp a week ago, leaving his family, his agent and team officials to speculate about his motive and whereabouts.

Underwood has 16-month-old twins who live in Michigan with his former girlfriend. He also provides financial assistance to his mother, brother and sister in Philadelphia.

After his first practice in Mankato, Minn., Underwood flew to Cleveland, where his new Lexus was parked. From there he headed to Philadelphia, where he has been since. Underwood spent four nights in a hotel, but ran short of cash and spent one night in his car. When interviewed, he had $8 in his pocket.

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Michael Strahan, the defensive end whose 29 sacks over the past two seasons led the NFL, signed a four-year, $32-million contract with the New York Giants, making him the second-highest-paid defensive player behind the Dallas Cowboys’ Deion Sanders. . . . First-round draft pick Fernando Bryant, a cornerback from Alabama, ended his 11-day holdout, signing a five-year, $5.3-million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Running back Jamal Anderson, who has been holding out for two weeks in a bid for a new contract from the Atlanta Falcons, is expected to meet with team officials today, Coach Dan Reeves said.

Running back J.J. Johnson, the Miami Dolphins’ top draft pick, is expected to be sidelined up to 10 days after straining his left hamstring. . . . The San Diego Chargers re-signed unrestricted free-agent defensive back Greg Jackson and traded tight end John Burke to the New York Jets for a seventh-round draft pick in 2001 and re-signed quarterback Jeff Baker. . . . LeShon Johnson, the New York Giants’ running back who missed all of last season while fighting cancer, tore ligaments in his right thumb during practice and probably will miss the preseason opener against Minnesota. . . . Philadelphia Eagle tight end Kaseem Sinceno is expected to be sidelined six weeks after ankle surgery to repair a stress fracture.