BRIEFLY\Raiders sign Maryland fo $19 million.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Russell Maryland wanted to remain a Dallas Cowboy. The salary cap wouldn't let him.

With Dallas dollars either tied up in its superstars or earmarked to re-sign other players, MAryland agreed Wednesday to a six-year, $19 million contract with e Oakland Raiders.

Agent Leigh Steinberg said the deal, which includes a $4.3 million signing bonus, would be announced at a news coinference today at Oakland. Maryland was flying to California late Wednesday.

Sean Salisbury signed a two-year contract worth about $1 million with the San Diego Chargers, a team he grew up idolizing. Salisbury, 32, grew up in nearby Escondido during the Chargers' Air Coryell years, then played at USC.

Free-agent quarterback Erik Wilhelm signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, who are looking for a backup to Jeff Blake.

TENNIS

Andre Agassi's bid to regain the No. 1 ranking took a sudden nosedive in Memphis, Tenn., with a 6-2,6-4 loss to world No. 419 Luke Jensen, the ambidextrous doubles specialist who played for USC.

BOXING

Manny Castillo is out and Eduardo "Lalo" Perez is in as Gabriel Ruelas' opponent March 13 at the Olympic Auditorium, promoter Peter Broudy said.

Perez, a veteran fighter who was once Mexican champion, was easily outpointed by John John Molina on the card in which Ruelas lost his WBC super featherweight title to Azumah Nelson.

Promoters and Castillo were unable to come to terms.