Cornerback

Dallas Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston will miss the rest of the season because of further neck problems related to 1997 surgery on a herniated disc. Johnston, 33, conceded the latest problem, discovered in tests Wednesday, could end his career. "It is going to be a tough decision," he said. "That will be considered at the end of the season. . .The strange thing is I thought after making it through last season, I'd be OK. " Johnston had surgery six weeks into the 1997 season to fuse two vertebrae in the neck.

THE BEST Patrick Peterson, LSU Size: 6-0 3/8 1/4, 221. 40-time: 4.31 Projected round: 1 Mayock: "He's big and fast. He's got a little [hip] stiffness to him that the longer, bigger corners always or usually do. But he's got rare athletic skill and return ability. He could ultimately end up inside, but boy, what a game-changer. He's most comfortable in press-man. If you try to play him in off-man [coverage], he's going to struggle a little bit. So the best place for him is with a team that's going to let him press, get up in your face, knock [the receiver]

After a glowing college football career at Nebraska, former Burlington City standout Charles Fryar assumed that his future would be determined during the recent NFL draft. Fryar, a cousin of former Nebraska all-American and current New England Patriots receiver Irving Fryar, had been a three-year starter at cornerback for one of the nation's highest-profile football programs. Last season, the 5-foot-10, 175-pounder was named first-team all-Big 8. He grabbed five interceptions for the Big 8 champions, including two in his final game, a 23-3 loss to Miami in the Orange Bowl.

The Dallas Cowboys have waived veteran cornerback Tyrone Williams, an early season addition who was supposed to fill in for some injured players but instead got hurt himself. Williams was signed in late September and activated for three games in October. He left the third one, against Detroit, with a strained hamstring on the first series and hadn't practiced in the 2 weeks since. The Cowboys said they would move him to injured reserve if he clears waivers. He was dropped Saturday.

Cornerback Daryon Brutley has signed a 2-year contract with the Eagles. Brutley, 24, played last spring with the Berlin Thunder, of NFL Europe, recording two interceptions, 20 tackles and seven pass breakups. Brutley attended Southern Mississippi for 3 years before transferring to Northern Iowa for his senior season. He had 46 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery in his only year with Northern Iowa. Brutley signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2002 as an undrafted free agent, but was released during the preseason.

Buddy Ryan and the rest of the Eagles' brain trust should fall on their knees and thank divine providence, pure luck or whatever else determines these things. Maybe good things come to those who taunt the Cowboys. Anyway, in a draft typified by hip-deep mediocrity at almost every other position, the prospects for cornerback are as numerous and as good as they ever have been. As many as six or seven college seniors are projected as real solid NFL possibilities on the corner, which is about five or six more than the usual draft yields.

It was the almost-best play of the Eagles' preseason opener. In the third quarter, cornerback Al Harris broke on a pass by Baltimore's Tony Banks. If he caught it, Harris would have been halfway to the end zone before any Raven had time to react. "Just took my eyes off it for a second," Harris said. "That's the difference between making the play and not making the play. " Instead of an Eagles defensive touchdown, the play turned into a 20-yard gain for the Ravens. Harris took a gamble and lost.

With one-third of the "three-headed monster" on the sideline, the Eagles were still able to hold off the Chicago Bears yesterday. Cornerback Troy Vincent missed most of the second half after straining a groin muscle. Al Harris moved up and, with Bobby Taylor, played a big role in frustrating Bears rookie quarterback Cade McNown. "I feel like we have the best corners in the league," Taylor said. "Our secondary as a whole is as good as there is. The corners - myself, Al, Allen [Rossum]

Everson Walls, whose 56 career interceptions ranked second among active NFL players, was waived yesterday by the New York Giants. Walls, 32, had one interception and 14 tackles this season in a part-time role that in recent weeks was reduced even more. Giants coach Ray Handley denied that Walls' outspokenness was the reason the NFL's 14th-all-time-leading pass intercepter was waived after 2 1/2 seasons with the Giants, including a Super Bowl championship in 1990. "I am not interested in sending a message to the veterans," said Handley, whose job is in jeopardy after a 2-4 start and a 10-12 overall record.

We continue with our position-by-position rankings, this week grading the area's top cornerbacks. In compiling this subjective top-10 list, we took into consideration coverage ability, open-field tackling, skill at supporting against the run, and potential to succeed at the next level. 1. Damiere Shaw, Cardinal O'Hara, senior, 5-foot-10, 170 pounds. A multipurpose standout for the Lions, Shaw is expected to play in the defensive secondary at Temple. 2. Will Parks, Germantown, senior, 6-1, 180. Like Shaw, Parks, who also contributed as a receiver and running back, was a two-way catalyst.