BRIEFLY : COOKE DROPS REDSKINS BID.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Team president John Kent Cooke unexpectedly withdrew his bid for the Washington Redskins on Thursday, and the Associated Press has learned that the team's trustees are close to making a deal to sell the team to communications executive Daniel Snyder for $800 million.

Cooke, apparently ending his dream of owning the team his father owned, pulled out with a statement indicative of his ongoing frustration with the trustees overseeing his father's estate.

``This week I presented a greatly increased offer . . . for the Washington Redskins and Jack Kent Cooke Stadium,'' Cooke said. ``The executors failed to act on my offer and today I have withdrawn it.''

Former Minnesota Vikings great Carl Eller was released from jail while North Mankato, Minn., police investigated a sexual assault claim.

Eller, 57, was a star defensive end with the Vikings' ``Purple People Eaters,'' who helped Minnesota to four NFC championships and Super Bowl appearances in the late 1960s and 1970s. Eller made six Pro Bowl appearances and was among 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year.

The New England Patriots signed free-agent quarterback John Friesz, giving them another veteran to back up starter Drew Bledsoe. Scott Zolak will return as Bledsoe's backup.

BOXING: Erik Morales will not be facing Wayne McCullough when he defends his WBC super bantamweight title May 8 in Las Vegas. Promoter Bob Arum said McCullough injured his back in training and will be replaced by Juan Carlos Ramirez of Mexico.

BASKETBALL: All-Big 12 forward Albert White said he's skipping his senior year at Missouri to enter the NBA draft. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Kansas City high school standout Kareem Rush will announce today that he has chosen Missouri over UCLA.

Shawn Marion, Nevada-Las Vegas' leading scorer, is expected to announce today that he will enter the NBA draft.

TENNIS: Taking advantage of warm, dry conditions, Mark Philippoussis succeeded where fellow hard-court specialists have failed at the Monte Carlo Open with a 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 victory over Sebastien Grosjean.

Marcelo Rios, Gustavo Kuerten, Carlos Moya and Albert Costa were among other seeded players to advance. Philippoussis will meet Rios in the quarterfinals.

Second-seeded Mary Pierce of France advanced to the quarterfinals of the Egypt Classic in Cairo, beating Seda Noorlander of the Netherlands 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.

Pierce, No. 8 in the WTA Tour rankings, will face fifth-seeded Irina Spirlea of Romania, a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-1) winner over Kristie Boogert of the Netherlands.

SOCCER: Tisha Venturini scored the game-winning goal in the 92nd minute as the U.S. national women's team beat China 2-1 at Hershey, Pa., in an exhibition game leading up to this summer's Women's World Cup. The United States avenged its only loss of the year, 2-1 to China in the Algarve Cup final March 20 in Portugal.