McMahon to start against Buffalo

Jim McMahon will start at quarterback Saturday and play"probably at least a half, maybe more," Bear coach Mike Ditka saidyesterday. The Buffalo game at Notre Dame would be McMahon's firstaction since the pre-season opener at London.

McMahon has been slowed by a pulled hip flexor muscle, in hisupper leg. The recurring injury prompted Ditka to criticizeMcMahon's conditioning and weight, but yesterday Ditka said, "Hisweight is good. It's 191."

He said McMahon doesn't talk about his injury and that it wouldbe most noticeable if he tried to scramble. "I'd rather he just takethe sack right now," Ditka said.

"He looked good today. He threw the ball well. He threw it tothe wrong areas a couple times, but that's only rustiness. He did alot of things well, good things Jim is capable of doing likeaudibling and throwing the ball in the hole to certain people."