SAN FRANCISCO — Three charges against Barry Bonds were dismissed by a federal judge who left intact most of the indictment alleging Bonds lied to a grand jury when he denied knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Bonds, baseball’s home run king, is scheduled for a March 2 trial. He had faced 14 counts of making false declarations to a grand jury investigating steroid use in sports and one count of obstruction of justice.

His lawyers had asked U.S. District Judge Susan Illston to dismiss 10 of the lying charges, claiming he was asked unclear questions in front of the grand jury in 2003. Illston ruled to dismiss three charges and consolidate or rewrite another two.

Bonds has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Illston’s action does not change the fundamentals of the case, nor would it have much of an effect on any sentence handed down, should Bonds be convicted. Legal experts say he would face up to 21⁄2 years in prison if found guilty.

Donovan McNabb back in Eagles’ starting line

PHILADELPHIA — Donovan McNabb’s benching lasted less than 24 hours.

One day after he got yanked at halftime of a close game, the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback got his job back — for now. McNabb will start when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night.

McNabb was pulled from a game for the first time in his career after two dismal quarters in Sunday’s 36-7 loss at Baltimore. Kevin Kolb played poorly while McNabb watched from the sideline in a hooded jacket and minus the headset backups usually wear to assist coaches.

The Eagles are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third time in four years since losing the 2005 Super Bowl. No matter how they finish, this could be McNabb’s last season in Philadelphia.

McNabb, who turns 32 on Tuesday, is signed through 2013, but there’s no chance the Eagles will pay him $9.2 million next year to be a backup. He’s 22-21-1 as a starter since leading Philadelphia to four straight NFC championship games from 2001-04.

Pacman Jones again practicing with Cowboys

IRVING, Texas — Suspended cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones was back at work with the Dallas Cowboys, going to meetings and a practice even though he can’t suit up until Dec. 7 against Pittsburgh.

Jones is allowed to do everything but play in the next game — Thursday against Seattle — as he works his way back from his latest suspension, a six-game penalty for violating the league’s player conduct policy. He previously was suspended for the entire 2007 season and coach Wade Phillips said it’s reasonable to believe another slip-up would get him permanently banned from the NFL.

By being around the team this week, Jones can start getting back into football shape. He also can start repairing whatever damage his absence might’ve caused in the locker room.

Dolphins receiver Camarillo out for season

DAVIE, Fla. — Miami Dolphins wide receiver Greg Camarillo will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, coach Tony Sparano said.

Camarillo left Miami’s 48-28 loss to New England in the second half Sunday and did not return. He underwent an MRI on Monday.

The tear in Camarillo’s knee ends his breakout year with the Dolphins. He leads the Dolphins with 55 receptions for 613 yards and two touchdowns after catching a total of eight passes in his first two NFL seasons.

This is the second time in two years that the Dolphins have lost a key player during a game against the Patriots. Running back Ronnie Brown needed surgery to repair a torn ACL after the Dolphins’ 49-28 loss to New England on Oct. 21, 2007.

Camarillo signed a $6 million, three-year extension this year that will keep him under contract through 2011.

College Football

Pinkel gets new contract with Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri coach Gary Pinkel agreed to a new contract two weeks before his 12th-ranked Tigers were set to play in their second straight Big 12 title game.

Pinkel said he hopes to sign the contract “in the next couple of days.” The school’s Board of Curators, which must approve the deal, is scheduled to meet Tuesday.

The school announced last week that it was planning a second raise in two years for Pinkel, who has led the Tigers to a 21-4 record the last two seasons.

This year, Missouri is 9-2 and won the Big 12 North for the second straight season. The Tigers will play in the conference championship game on Dec. 6 in Kansas City.

Pinkel is 58-39 overall in his eighth season at the school, which is poised for its fourth consecutive bowl appearance.

Baseball

Youngsters Singh, Patel sign on with Pirates

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates hope Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel really do have million-dollar arms.

The two 20-year-old pitchers, neither of whom had picked up a baseball until earlier this year, signed free-agent contracts with the Pirates. They are believed to be the first athletes from India to sign professional baseball contracts outside their country.

Singh and Patel came to the United States six months ago after being the top finishers in an Indian reality TV show called the “Million Dollar Arm” that drew about 30,000 contestants. The show sought to find athletes who could throw strikes at 85 miles per hour or faster.

While neither pitcher threw hard enough to earn the $1 million prize, Singh made $100,000 from the contest and Patel made $2,500, plus his trip to the United States.