BRIEFLY : REDSKINS CONTINUE HARDBALL WITH GILBERT.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Continuing a long standoff, the Washington Redskins on Wednesday once again designated defensive lineman Sean Gilbert as their franchise player.

The team exercised its option on Gilbert, who sat out all last season after he and the Redskins were unable to agree on a contract, two days before he would have become an unrestricted free agent.

Gilbert ``is free to talk to other teams,'' Redskins general manager Charley Casserly said. ``The compensation is two No. 1 draft choices, as the rulebook says.''

The move reinforces the Redskins' promise to play hardball with the 27-year-old defensive tackle.

The Arizona Cardinals re-signed defensive tackle Eric Swann to a five-year, $25 million contract.

The deal, which includes a $7.5 million signing bonus, makes Swann the highest-paid player in the franchise's 78-year history and one of the NFL's richest linemen.

Rob Johnson, the Jacksonville Jaguars' promising young backup quarterback from USC, is expected to be traded to the Buffalo Bills before the weekend, according to the Associated Press.

BASEBALL: The Dodgers reached contract agreements with infielders Juan Castro and Tripp Cromer, and catchers Henry Blanco and Angel Pena.

Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton agreed to a one-year contract.

Reliever Ricky Bottalico got a five-fold salary increase from the Philadelphia Phillies, agreeing to a $2.2 million, one-year contract.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, who failed to win the Heisman Trophy, became only the fourth football player in 68 years to win the Sullivan Award as the nation's top amateur athlete.

BASKETBALL: Jody Conradt, the winningest coach in women's history, and Harley Redin, who won six AAU titles with Wayland Baptist, were added to the list of 11 previous nominees for the Basketball Hall of Fame.

TENNIS: With both players late in arriving in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and having little time to practice, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Goran Ivanisevic made quick exits from the $1 million Dubai Open. Kafelnikov, the No. 3 seed, lost 6-2, 6-1 to Hicham Arazi. Ivanisevic, the No. 8 seed, was beaten by Carlos Moya 6-3, 6-3.