Tampa Bay Buccaneers: It appears now that Tampa Bay Bucs starting tailback Michael Pittman will at least begin training camp with the defending Super Bowl champions later this month and could even get through the entire preseason before a motion to revoke his probation is resolved.

A hearing on the potential probation revocation is scheduled for Wednesday in Tempe, Ariz., but the session, both sides agreed, will not produce a verdict. Instead the hearing will likely set a date in which evidence against Pittman, who prosecutors contend violated parole when he allegedly rammed his Hummer into the automobile driven by his wife in a May 31 incident, will be presented.

"It's more like an arraignment," attorney Joel Thompson, who is the new counsel for the Bucs star, told The Tampa Tribune. "This is simply to make Michael aware of the prosecution alleges he did to violate the probation."

It could be 2-4 weeks, perhaps even longer, prosecutors agreed, before a date is set for the presentation of facts. The Bucs report to training camp July 18, the earliest opening for any team in the league, and begin practices the following morning.

Pittman, 27, is on probation because of a pair of misdemeanor assault charges stemming from domestic abuse incidents against his wife in 2001. He received three years probation for those incidents. Tempe prosecutor Robert Hubbard has contended the May 31 event, which apparently revolved around a dispute as to whether Pittman could take his son to mini-camp with him, breached terms of the probation.

The five-year veteran, who led the Bucs in rushing last season, faces two felony counts of aggravated assault for the May 31 incident. Each count carries a sentence of 5-15 years. The next court proceeding addressing the aggravated assault charges is a pretrial hearing that is scheduled for July 30, and at which Pittman does not have to be present.

The aggravated assault case might not reach the trial stage until next spring. Pittman is still subject to possible league discipline for a potential violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy.

-- Len Pasquarelli

Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys, which have made no statement about wounded safety Keith Davis, announced that they claimed wide receiver Gary Lusk on waivers from the Chicago Bears.

A former Texas A&M-Kingsville starter, Lusk was acquired by the Bears in May as an undrafted college free agent, then released late last month. In two seasons at Kingsville, he totaled 82 receptions for 1,426 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Although it is not expected to affect his readiness for training camp, Davis, shot twice early Sunday in the parking lot of a local topless club, was re-admitted to the hospital Monday because of pain related to the wounds.

Davis, 24, had been released on Sunday after receiving treatment for gunshot wounds to his left hip and right arm. Agent Byron Boston said he expected his client to be released when the pain subsided and emphasized Davis will be ready for camp on July 25.

The former Sam Houston State star, who played in five games for the Cowboys in 2002, will vie for a backup safety spot.

-- Len Pasquarelli

Pittsburgh Steelers: Former NFL linebacker Fred Small, who played the 1985 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was killed last week when the motorcycle he was riding as an Inglewood, Calif., police officer, was involved in a collision.

Small, 39, was gravely injured when his motorcycle was impacted by two vechicles. The incident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

A standout at the University of Washington, he was chosen by the Steelers in the ninth round of the '85 draft and played in 16 games, all as a backup. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers the following season, did not make the regular-season roster, and was in a variety of NFL training camp until 1989, when he retired.

Small joined the Inglewood Police Department in 1998, after working in departments at the Los Angeles County Community College and Westminster, Calif. He was assigned to the traffic division.

--Len Pasquarelli