TAMPA, Fla. -- David Wells declined to take part in a photo shoot Saturday for Sports Illustrated that featured the New York Yankees' starting pitchers and owner George Steinbrenner.

	Wells

Wells was asked through the team's media relations department to be in the photo, intended for the cover of the magazine's next issue. The photo features Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Jeff Weaver and Jose Contreras.

"Who can tell?" Steinbrenner said when asked where Wells was. "I really don't care."

Wells was fined $100,000 by the Yankees on March 10 because the club said his autobiography, "Perfect I'm Not! Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches & Baseball," tarnished the team's image.

"It was nothing to do with the team, players or anything like that,'' Wells said Sunday. "It was a Sports Illustrated issue. It was a personal decision. I've had problems with them.''

Wells said he hasn't talked to the magazine since the article in July 2000, which included a discussion of his weight.

"I don't do anything for them, ever,'' Wells said. ``I asked them not to even put me in the magazine. I don't want my name in that. If it was any other magazine, I would have done it. If it makes me look bad, oh well, it won't be the first time.''

When asked if he thought Steinbrenner respected his decision, Wells responded, 'No.' Wells has talked with the other pitchers.

"I told them I had a problem with Sports Illustrated,'' Wells said. "You can respect my decision or you don't. Nobody has said anything to me and I'm not really worried about it.''

Said Pettitte: "He had a problem, I guess, with Sports Illustrated. He didn't want to be in it. Sometimes you feel like you don't want to do something. Obviously, it's unfortunate we all can't be in there together."

Yankees manager Joe Torre doesn't expect the situation to become a problem.

"I don't think that will have any effect on anything that goes on here," Torre said. "I knew this thing was going to go on and that Boomer had balked at it. I don't know why. I didn't ask him. It's his business."

Despite the absence of Wells, Clemens said the picture will be something special to have after he retires.

"It will be a great shot," Clemens said. "Those are the things when we're done playing that make memories for me and my family. It's a great photo to have with Andy and the guys. I know I don't have too many photos with the Boss with me in uniform."

Clemens, seven wins shy of becoming the 21st pitcher to reach 300, has said this will probably be his final season.

Pettitte thinks he's never been on the cover.

"It was a thrill for me for me to be in it," he said.