NFL Notebook: Panthers get McCown in trade with Dolphins

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 30, 2008

■ The Carolina Panthers acquired Josh McCown, a seven-year veteran quarterback, in a trade with Miami for an undisclosed draft choice yesterday.

McCown, who played at Sam Houston State, was selected in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft by Arizona and spent four years with the Cardinals before signing with Detroit in 2006 and Oakland in 2007. He signed with the Dolphins during the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

His most extensive playing time came for Arizona in 2004 when he started 13 games and passed for 2,511 yards with eleven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In his 31 games as a starter, he has completed 545 of 919 passes (59.3 percent) for 5,945 yards with 33 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.

McCown has played in 44 games, starting 31 and passed for 6,582 yards with 35 touchdowns and 40 interceptions.

The move likely means that Brett Basanez, the third-string quarterback, will be released when the Panthers reduce their roster to 53 players today.

■ The Houston Texans released veteran linebacker Rosevelt Colvin and several other players yesterday, the day before NFL teams must set their 53-man rosters.

The Texans signed Colvin in June after he was released by New England. They had hoped he could be a situational pass rusher, but decided he wasn't valuable enough to take up a roster spot.

■ Sam Hurd of the Dallas Cowboys, the No. 3 receiver behind Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton, got an MRI exam yesterday and had a high left-ankle sprain diagnosed.

The team said Hurd, the third Cowboys receiver injured in the past three preseason games, won't play on Sept. 7 at Cleveland.

Hurd was injured on the opening drive of the preseason finale, when he landed awkwardly after being tackled from behind at the end of a 35-yard reverse in the Cowboys' 16-10 victory against Minnesota.

■ The National Football League has suspended left tackle Bryant McKinnie of the Minnesota Vikings without pay for the team's first four regular-season games for violating the league's personal-conduct policy.

The NFL said McKinnie's suspension begins on Aug. 30. He's eligible to return to the Vikings' active roster on Monday, Sept. 29, after the team's Sept. 28 game against the Tennessee Titans.

McKinnie has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a street brawl outside a Miami nightclub in February.

McKinnie has been the Vikings' starting left tackle for the last 87 games, dating to the middle of his rookie season.