DATE: Saturday, August 2, 1997              TAG: 9708020690

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   53 lines

SMITH CONFIRMS HE'LL END HOLDOUT THE BILLS' STAR LINEMAN ALSO SAYS HE'LL LIKELY BECOME A FREE AGENT AFTER SEASON.

All-Pro defensive end Bruce Smith confirmed reports he will end his holdout and report to the Buffalo Bills training camp this weekend.

Smith, speaking from his Virginia Beach home, also says he'll likely become a free agent after this season.

``I'll be there sometime this weekend,'' said Smith, a Norfolk native and Virginia Tech alumnus. ``I haven't worked out the final details, but it's time for me to report.

``I've got too much idle time on my hands. I need the work. And I miss being around my teammates.''

Bills coach Marv Levy told the Associated Press he expects Smith to participate in his first full workout on Monday.

Smith, the 1996 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, has been a holdout for three weeks, for which he has been fined $105,000. He has a year left on his contract, which calls for him to be paid $2.2 million this season.

The Bills have offered him a five-year, $22 million contract that includes a $5 million signing bonus. But Smith says that isn't enough, in part because $11 million is deferred until the fourth and fifth seasons.

Smith, 34, says he wants more money up front because he may not be able to play more than three more seasons. He also wants to be reimbursed for a $1.65 million pay cut he took two years ago that allowed the Bills to sign free agents and remain within the NFL salary cap.

Unless the Bills sweeten the offer, he says he intends to become a free agent and shop his wares elsewhere.

``My goal this year is just to stay healthy,'' Smith said.

``Next year, I will be a free agent. There are 29 other teams in desperate need of a pass rusher.''

Smith still could be designated the Bills' franchise player after this season, which would mean he would stay with Buffalo and be guaranteed a salary of the top five defensive players in the league.

Smith has been the object of fan criticism in Buffalo both because of his holdout and because of his arrest in Virginia Beach a week ago. Police say they found him asleep at the wheel of his car Sunday at 6:30 a.m. and charged him with driving under the influence and refusing to take a blood alcohol test.

``I would expect nothing less,'' Smith said of the criticism.

Smith's holdout comes only days after the Bills, the city of Buffalo and New York state officials reached an agreement designed to keep the team playing at Rich Stadium for the next 15 years.

``I can tell you I'm happy for management and the state of New York in dealing with their situation,'' he said. ``I'm disappointed that management didn't have integrity in my situation.'' MEMO: The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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