Free agent Elfrid Payton, the leading sacker in the Canadian Football League last season, said last night he's leaning toward signing a contract with the Baltimore CFLs.

Should Payton join the CFLs, he would join linebacker O. J. Brigance, giving Baltimore the league's top two pass rushers from 1993. Payton had 22 sacks as an outside linebacker at Winnipeg but would play rush end in Baltimore.

Signed by the Shreveport Pirates this summer, he was released last week with one sack, the 35th of his four-year career.

"I was making a lot of money, and that had a lot to do with it," Payton, 27, said of his release.

If signed, Payton would play in the Aug. 27 game at Hamilton.

Earnest Fields, a converted middle linebacker, will start at rush end Saturday against Toronto.

NOTES: Hall of Fame Colts John Unitas, Lenny Moore and Art Donovan have accepted invitations to be inducted into the Memorial Stadium "Wall of Fame" at halftime of Saturday's game against Toronto. . . . Coach Don Matthews said he will activate slotback Reggie Perry ahead of newly acquired wide-out Reggie Brown this week. . . . Running back Mike Pringle ran for the first time since having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. "I plan on playing Saturday," he said. "But I won't put myself in a situation where it'll take longer to heal if I'm not close to 100 percent."