PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : NFC : Salaam Waiting on Family, Agent

Rashaan Salaam says he would be signed and at the Chicago Bears’ training camp now if he weren’t relying on his mother and agent to run the business side of his pro football career.

The Heisman Trophy winner has been a holdout during the opening week of camp because his agent, Marvin Demoff, and the Bears have been unable to come to terms.

Demoff says Salaam’s parents want an incentive clause that would pay the former Colorado star more for a successful season. Thus far, the Bears aren’t going for the idea.

“I hope and pray every day that my mother and Marvin are making the right decision,” Salaam told the Chicago Tribune from his Boulder, Colo., home. “I’d take what they are offering if it was up to me.”

AFC / Beuerlein to Start for Jacksonville

Steve Beuerlein will start at quarterback for Jacksonville when the Jaguars meet the Carolina Panthers today in the first competition for the NFL expansion teams.

Beuerlein, 30, the first player selected in the expansion draft from the Arizona Cardinals, was named Thursday by Jaguar Coach Tom Coughlin. Beuerlein will run the offense in the first period and into the second at Canton, Ohio, in the traditional exhibition-season opener at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The other three quarterbacks--Mark Brunell, Andre Ware and rookie Rob Johnson of USC--also are expected to play.

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Ellis Johnson, the Indianapolis Colts’ first-round draft pick who has been impressive since camp opened July 12, injured his right knee during the team’s morning practice in Anderson, Ind.

“He just hyperextended it. He’ll be out for a couple of days,” Coach Ted Marchibroda said.

The injury is the latest to hit the defensive unit. Vince Tobin, the defensive coordinator, went into camp thinking he had depth on defense. That was before lineman Tony Siragusa and cornerback Ray Buchanan bolted from camp over contract disputes and Steve Emtman left the team.

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Offensive lineman Eric Moore reported to the Cincinnati Bengals’ training camp, offering veteran help to a line that was one of the weak spots last year.

The Bengals kept Moore, a starter last season, by matching a $2.178-million, two-year offer from the New Orleans Saints.

Moore was a free agent, but the Bengals put a clause in his 1994 contract that allowed them to match any offers.