BRIEFLY : FLUTIE NAMED BILLS' STARTER OVER JOHNSON.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

After playing savior for weeks, Doug Flutie achieved greater status Wednesday: He was designated the starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills.

``I know the question; the answer is Doug Flutie,'' Bills coach Wade Phillips said. ``To me, it's an easy decision.'' He added that injured Rob Johnson is now No. 2.

``Rob will be working his way back as the backup, and that's where we are,'' Phillips said.

``I'm not a backup,'' said Johnson, who stopped just short of saying he might seek a trade at some point if he isn't reinstated as the starter. He said he would discuss the situation with his agent, Leigh Steinberg.

But Johnson, formerly of USC, added that he understood the decision to go with Flutie. ``Doug has his own cereal. He's on the cover of Sports Illustrated,'' Johnson said.

Flutie agreed he lives a charmed life. ``I'm the type of guy that hooks a 7-iron from 150 yards out and hits a tree and rolls back on the green,'' Flutie said. ``I've had my share of luck, but you also make your own luck. I've worked hard.''

Quarterback Jeff George participated in a full practice Wednesday for the first time since tearing his groin exactly one month earlier, but the Oakland Raiders have not decided whether he'll return this weekend.

George, who had been unable to make sharp cuts and turns until this week, shared time with Donald Hollas working with the first-string offense.

HOCKEY: The Pittsburgh Penguins' message to the city: You can't sue us, we'll sue you first.

With City Council threatening to padlock the Civic Arena until the Penguins pay $1 million in amusement taxes, the team filed suit asking federal Bankruptcy Court to halt any city action.

The suit contends it violates federal law for City Council president Jim Ferlo to threaten to interfere with the franchise while it reorganizes under Chapter 11.

TENNIS: Pete Sampras survived a first-set scare against Thomas Johansson before storming back to beat the Swede 7-6 (9-7), 6-1 in second round of the $2.55 million Paris Open.

Richard Krajicek, the No. 11 seed, withdrew with a knee injury while leading 5-2 in the final set, giving Marc Rosset of Switzerland a place in the third round.

No. 2 seed Marcelo Rios, one of the players battling with Sampras for the end-of-year No. 1 spot, had an easy second-round contest, beating Todd Woodbridge 6-0, 6-4.

In the second match of her latest comeback, Steffi Graf overcame a slow start and beat sixth-seeded Ali Sugiyama 6-4, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the Leipzig Open in Germany.

In the quarterfinals, Graf will play 19-year-old Anne-Gaelle Sidot, who upset top-seeded Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, the reigning French Open champion and Graf's old rival. Sidot, a qualifier ranked No. 74 in the world, won 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.