Former University of Hawai'i defensive back Abraham Elimimian was among 11 players released by the San Diego Chargers yesterday.

Elimimian signed a free-agent contract with the Chargers after not being selected in April's NFL draft.

The Chargers need to cut three more players by tomorrow.

Elimimian, who is 5 feet 9 and 193 pounds, played for the Warriors for four seasons and was an All-Western Athletic Conference first-team selection as a senior and played in the Senior Bowl.

The Los Angeles native had 65 total tackles and led the Warriors with five interceptions and five passes defended last season.

JETS

KAHUKU ALUM SIGNS

The New York Jets signed defensive back Aaron Francisco, a 2001 Kahuku High graduate and Brigham Young alum, yesterday.

Francisco, a first-team All-Mountain West Conference pick as a junior, was released by the Arizona Cardinals last week after signing with them as an undrafted free agent out of BYU. During his senior year, Francisco had 88 tackles, one sack and one interception.

Terms of Francisco's deal were not released.

JAGUARS

WR EDWARDS RELEASED

Troy Edwards, a one-time first-round pick, was released by Jacksonville yesterday after he was unable to move ahead of rookie receivers Matt Jones and former University of Hawai'i standout Chad Owens.

Edwards, the team's second-leading receiver with 50 catches for 533 yards last year, was displeased with his reduced role this season.

The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Edwards was the Jags' No. 3 receiver the past two years, but he lost that spot to first-round pick Jones this season and fell behind sixth-round selection Owens in the last two preseason games.

A first-round pick by Pittsburgh in 1999, Edwards started 15 of 29 games and had 85 receptions for 1,020 yards and four TDs in two seasons with the Jaguars.

BRONCOS

CLARRETT TO BE RELEASED

Unable to practice much or play at all during the preseason, Maurice Clarett will be released by Denver later this week, his agent said yesterday.

Agent Steven Feldman said Clarett, the troubled running back who the Broncos surprisingly chose in the third round of this year's draft, will be released when the Broncos make their first round of cuts.

"They didn't contact me, per se," Feldman said. "The kid called me and let me know they're going to let him go."

Team spokesman Jim Saccomano said the team didn't plan to release anybody until tomorrow.

BEARS

RB BENSON AGREES

Running back Cedric Benson ended his 36-day holdout yesterday, agreeing to a five-year contract with Chicago.

Benson, the No. 4 overall pick in this year's draft, was the last remaining first-round pick to sign. Terms were not available but reports said the Bears had offered a contract that contained $17 million in guaranteed money to the former Texas star.

Also, the Bears promoted rookie Kyle Orton to be the starting quarterback.

EAGLES

SIMON NOW FREE AGENT

Philadelphia withdrew its franchise tag on former first-round draft pick Corey Simon yesterday, making the defensive tackle an unrestricted free agent.

Simon was offered a one-year franchise tender worth about $5.13 million, but wanted a long-term contract. With the franchise tag, another team would have to forfeit two first-round picks if it signed the former Pro Bowl lineman.

ELSEWHERE

Niners: Andrew Williams, San Francisco's third-round pick in 2003, was among 10 players released by the 49ers yesterday. Williams played defensive end in his first two seasons in San Francisco.

Browns: Linebacker Brant Boyer, a 12-year veteran who missed last season because of a foot injury, was one of 13 players released by Cleveland yesterday.