Rookie defensive back Aaron Francisco, a 2001 Kahuku High graduate and Brigham Young alum, was among nine players released by the Arizona Cardinals yesterday.

Francisco, a first-team All-Mountain West Conference pick as a junior, signed a free agent contract with Arizona following April's draft.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder played safety at BYU.

Running back Troy Hambrick, acquired in a trade with the Oakland Raiders a year ago, was also released by Arizona. He had not practiced this year because of a lingering foot injury that sidelined him late last season.

The Cardinals also cut running back Josh Scobey, wide receivers Lawrence Hamilton and Fabian Davis, offensive linemen Chad Bandiera and Jim Newton, linebacker Greg Carothers and tight end Andy Stokes.

GIANTS

MANNING TO SIT FRIDAY

Eli Manning's elbow is sprained, bruised, sore and nothing serious — certainly not cause for the New York Giants to worry over who'll be under center when the regular season begins.

Manning will sit out the Giants' preseason game against the New York Jets on Friday. If it were a big game, though, the No. 1 draft pick said he'd play.

"If it was the first game of a long season you wouldn't want to risk doing anything worse, but if it was an important game then I could still throw the football," Manning said yesterday, after the team doctor confirmed he had a sprain and bruise on the inside of his right elbow.

Coach Tom Coughlin said he felt Manning would be ready to play in time for the season opener against Arizona on Sept. 11.

STEELERS

HAMPTON EXTENDS

Nose tackle Casey Hampton, a former Pro Bowl player coming off a knee injury that sidelined him for all but six games last season, signed a five-year contract extension yesterday that runs through the 2009 season.

Hampton is in the final season of a contract that will pay him $989,065 in base salary and counts $1,607,215 against the salary cap this season, including the prorated share of the $3.1 million signing bonus he received as the No. 19 overall pick in the 2001 draft.

JAGUARS

TAYLOR TO MAKE DEBUT

Running back Fred Taylor, still recovering from a knee injury, will make his preseason debut Thursday against Atlanta.

Taylor had surgery to repair two partially torn knee ligaments in January. He started running during summer workouts, but was limited to one practice a day during training camp and did not participate in any contact drills.

Coach Jack Del Rio said yesterday that Taylor will play sparingly against the Falcons, then will sit out the preseason finale at Dallas because the game is on artificial turf.

PANTHERS

DAVIS FINALLY ON FIELD

Running back Stephen Davis was on the field yesterday for the first time this training camp, participating in a few individual drills.

Davis had microfracture surgery on his right knee in November and the Panthers have been hesitant to allow him to practice. He opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list, but said he believed he would be back in action before the end of the preseason.

All-Pro defensive end Julius Peppers sat out practice to rest a sore right ankle.

RAVENS

TE HEAP ACTIVATED

Tight end Todd Heap was activated off the physically unable to perform list but will not play in the team's preseason game Friday in New Orleans.

The two-time Pro Bowl pick, slowed by ankle and shoulder surgeries, did not participate in any training camp practices, but he will be on the field this week at the team's training facility and could be ready for the final exhibition game Sept. 1 against Washington.

Heap missed nine weeks last season with an ankle injury, but upon his return, he made 15 of his 27 receptions for the year, as well as all three of his touchdowns.

PATRIOTS

RECEIVER ACQUIRED

Receiver André Davis, pushed to the bottom of Cleveland's depth chart, was traded to New England by the Browns for an undisclosed draft pick yesterday.

For New England, Davis adds a veteran presence to an already deep receiving corps. He arrived at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., yesterday to begin practicing with the Super Bowl champions.

ELSEWHERE

Vikings: Running back Michael Bennett didn't practice yesterday because of a sore neck, and the team might keep him out of this week's preseason game as a precaution. Mewelde Moore will be the starter on Friday night against the San Diego Chargers. Bennett will be evaluated daily, but coach Mike Tice said he doesn't want to risk further injury for an exhibition game.

Titans: Top draft pick, Adam "Pacman" Jones signed his five-year contract yesterday and joined Tennessee's practice after a holdout caused him to miss 31 sessions.