PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL

Unsure of landing Deion Sanders, the San Francisco 49ers signed free agent cornerback Toi Cook. Cook, who spent his first seven NFL seasons in New Orleans, took part in his first practice with the 49ers after signing a one-year contract for $162,000, the veteran minimum. However, the pact includes incentives that could boost his compensation to $1 million, depending on playing time, performance and overall team success.

Sanders has used his free time during the baseball strike to visit several NFL teams, including the 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs. There also is a chance that Sanders could return to the Atlanta Falcons.

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Vance Johnson, who caught only two passes in the exhibition season, and No. 3 quarterback Trent Green were among 19 players cut as the San Diego Chargers trimmed their roster to 60 players. Johnson, a former Denver Bronco who signed a two-year, $2.4-million contract on March 24, suffered a strained right hamstring during training camp and saw limited playing time. He caught two passes for 31 yards in three exhibitions.

With Green waived, free agent Jeff Brohm from Louisville will become the No. 3 quarterback.

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Cornerback Perry Williams, 33, an integral part of a defense that led the New York Giants to Super Bowl victories in 1986 and 1990, retired from the New York Jets. . . . Veteran Cleveland Brown guard Mike Schad, who underwent surgery for a torn bicep, was placed on injured reserve and is sidelined for the season. . . . Rookie Perry Klein, a fourth-round draft choice from C.W. Post after attending three Southland high schools, beat out veteran Bob Gagliano as Atlanta’s No. 3 quarterback behind Jeff George and Bobby Hebert. . . . The Pittsburgh Steelers cut 11 players, including their top exhibition season rusher, Chuckie Dukes, a free agent from Boston College. . . . Cincinnati Bengal offensive tackle Joe Walter will sit out the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. . . . The Seahawks returned Darryl Wren to New England after the fourth-year defensive back, traded to Seattle for a sixth-round 1995 draft pick on Saturday, failed a physical. The Seahawks cut 10 players, including their No. 4 quarterback, Jeff Graham, and will go with Rick Mirer, Dan McGwire and Stan Gelbaugh at the position. . . . Former USC quarterback Pat O’Hara was among six players cut by the Washington Redskins.