PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : NFC : Policy 90% Sure on Deion to Dallas

Deion Sanders appears headed for the Dallas Cowboys, a decision that could be set by today.

Thursday night, San Francisco 49er President Carmen Policy all but conceded Sanders to the Cowboys. Policy said he thought the odds were 90% in favor of Sanders signing with Dallas. Denver joined Dallas and San Francisco in bidding for last year’s defensive player of the year.

Policy said he came to that conclusion after presenting San Francisco’s offer to Sanders’ agent, Eugene Parker.

“We have not discussed the details of the Dallas deal,” Policy said. “But I would have to say my sense of it is it is very significant and probably more significant than the other two deals that were submitted.

“This all boils down to money because I think we have a lot more to offer than Dallas in many other respects.”

Parker held early-morning talks in Dallas with owner Jerry Jones, who presented the Cowboys’ five-year financial package that included a bonus expected to approach $10 million.

Jones was working to free up salary-cap room. Troy Aikman said he would be willing to work something out in his contract that would free up $2 million from the salary cap.

Also, the Cowboys were talking to the New Orleans Saints about trading defensive lineman Russell Maryland, a move that would free some $1.8 million under the cap.

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Richard Dent’s agent paid a visit to the Chicago Bears but said contract talks were not under way. Bear Coach Dave Wannstedt said team doctors have examined the injured knee that forced Dent to miss most of last season with the 49ers. Dent, Chicago’s career sack leader with 124 1/2 from 1983-93, had a tryout with the Bears on Wednesday. . . . With starting tailback Lewis Tillman nursing a sprained ankle, Bear rookie running back Rashaan Salaam is expected to get more playing time Monday night against the Green Bay Packers.