BRIEFLY MORE TURNOVER FOR JOBLESS LEAF.

Byline: - Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Ryan Leaf is without a job again after the Dallas Cowboys cut him Monday, the third team in 15 months to release the former No. 2 overall draft pick.

Leaf might have been a model citizen in the Cowboys' locker room, but his play was erratic. Plus, he was expendable with the emergence of Quincy Carter and the recent acquisition of former Stanford quarterback Chad Hutchinson, who spent the past four seasons playing pro baseball.

``This is a decision that came down to numbers on our depth chart at the quarterback position and we wanted to dedicate the practice repetitions to the younger players,'' team owner Jerry Jones said.

--Red McCombs is again considering selling the Minnesota Vikings or moving them elsewhere.

``Given that the Vikings must remain competitive in the NFL,'' McCombs said in a statement, ``I have engaged J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. to assist me in evaluating all possible options. These options will include, but not be limited, to relocation or a sale.''

--Denver running back Terrell Davis, who missed several Broncos games the last three seasons because of leg injuries, had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

It was his second arthroscopic procedure in six months.

His agent said Davis will be ready for training camp in July.

--Linebackers Ray Lewis and Peter Boulware skipped the first day of Baltimore Ravens passing camp, drawing the ire of coach Brian Billick.

BASKETBALL: Former Boston Celtics teammates Larry Bird and M.L. Carr wrote a letter to NBA commissioner David Stern to ask about the possibility of a new franchise in Charlotte, N.C.

--Former La Salle basketball star Kareem Townes, 29, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with no chance for parole after pleading guilty in Philadelphia to selling crack cocaine to an undercover drug agent.

TENNIS: Lleyton Hewitt and Jennifer Capriati will be the top seeds at the French Open starting next week. On the men's side, Marat Safin, Tommy Haas and Andre Agassi are in the top four. On the women's side, Venus Williams, Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters follow Capriati.

--The No. 11 USC men beat No. 2 Tennessee 4-3 and will play for the NCAA title today against No. 1 Georgia, which beat No. 4 UCLA 4-2.

GOLF: Top-rated Auburn and Duke are favored in the NCAA women's golf championships that begin today. No. 18 Washington is host to the championships for the first time. USC, UCLA and Pepperdine are among the 24 teams competing.