PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Steelers’ Foster Fined for Holdout

All-Pro running back Barry Foster, trying to renegotiate the contract he signed only 10 months ago, began what could become the Pittsburgh Steelers’ messiest holdout in five years by not reporting to training camp.

The Steelers haven’t had an extended training camp contract impasse with a star-caliber player such as Foster since linebacker Mike Merriweather sat out the 1988 season.

The Steelers will fine Foster $4,000 per day--the maximum permissible under the NFL’s labor agreement--until he reports. They also said they won’t even begin talks on a contract extension until Foster shows up.

Foster, the NFL’s second-leading rusher to Dallas’ Emmitt Smith last season with 1,690 yards, was earlier fined $2,000 for missing the last two days of minicamp.

Steeler President Dan Rooney, a key figure in the labor negotiations last winter that brought free agency to the NFL, was disappointed with Foster’s absence.

“Barry isn’t here, and he should be,” he said. “The union has a responsibility to get the players in here. That’s why the fines were increased, to get the players here.”

Coach Bill Cowher, who was upset that Foster reneged on the promise to attend part of minicamp, took a philosophical approach to the absence of his 1992 most valuable player.

“I’m not going to react or overreact,” Cowher said. “When players aren’t here, they’ll be dealt with accordingly. (Contract disputes) are something that’s part of this time of the year, and we’ll prepare with the players we have.”

*

San Francisco right guard Roy Foster will be sidelined for at least three months because of a knee injury.

More damage than expected was discovered in Foster’s right knee during an arthroscopic procedure on Thursday.

It was initially thought that Foster would be able to return from the arthroscopic surgery in as little as 10 days. Now, he is destined for the physically unable to perform list and will miss all of training camp and probably the first five regular-season games.

Foster came to San Francisco as a free agent in 1991 and helped stabilize the offensive line. Last year, the 49ers had the most productive offense in the league, and Ricky Watters became the team’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 1989.

*

A year after shattering his left ankle, Steve Sewell announced his retirement after eight seasons with the Denver Broncos.

Sewell, 30, was Denver’s No. 1 draft choice in 1985 from Oklahoma. During his career with the Broncos, he became one of the NFL’s more versatile backs and was the Broncos’ third-down specialist because of his pass-catching ability.

Sewell caught 187 passes for 2,354 yards and rushed for 917 yards. His pass-reception yardage ranks 11th on the Broncos’ career list.

*

Hugh Millen, the ultimate journeyman, looked every bit like Super Bowl most valuable player Troy Aikman, throwing bullets in Aikman’s place on the opening day of the Dallas Cowboys’ training camp.

Millen, signed as a free agent to replace the departed Steve Beuerlein as Aikman’s backup, was thrown into action immediately as the No. 1 quarterback recovers from back surgery.

“I guess you always look for a silver lining, but Hugh Millen has been very impressive in our offense,” Coach Jimmy Johnson said of the player who was 0-7 as a starter last year for the New England Patriots. “He’s a tall quarterback (6 feet 5) and has a good arm. “

*

Miami Dolphin guard Keith Sims, who drew the ire of Coach Don Shula last season for not staying in shape, signed a three-year contract for a reported $1.4 million per season. . . . The Minnesota Vikings signed top draft choice Robert Smith, a running back from Ohio State.