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Associated PressDetails of the release are vague, and the Cowboys plan to start Vinny Testaverde, 40.
OXNARD, Calif. - In a stunning move the team would not explain, the Cowboys cut Quincy Carter on Wednesday and handed the starting quarterback job to 40-year-old Vinny Testaverde.
Four days after he started camp as the No. 1 quarterback, Carter was suddenly gone from a team he led to 10 wins and back to the playoffs in Bill Parcells' first season.
Owner Jerry Jones and Parcells were vague about why they released Carter, who started every game in 2003 and was the opening-game starter each of his three years.
"We've made a decision to move in a different direction," Jones said. "We're not going to get in a lot of detail on the process."
Jones would not specifically answer questions about reports Carter failed a drug test or say if the move was based on nonfootball issues.
"I think that we should leave it at it just was not a difficult decision and not get into a definition of what it was about," Jones said.
ESPN.com, FoxSports.com and CBSSportsLine.com reported Carter had failed a drug test. The NFL had no comment.
Carter's agent, Eugene Parker, did not return calls seeking comment. The quarterback left camp wearing a grey hooded Cowboys sweatshirt soon after being informed of the decision by Parcells and Jones, and wasn't available.
In a story posted on the Dallas Morning-News Web site Wednesday night, Carter said he was stunned by the team's decision and denied a report on FoxSports.com that cocaine was involved.
"I'm shocked. I'm at a loss for words," Carter told the newspaper. "The one thing I know and the people who have been around me all my life know is that cocaine has never been an issue for me. It never will be. And it's disturbing that a rumor like that would come out. ... That cocaine rumor is ridiculous."
Parcells had said this week Carter had "a leg up" at quarterback. After the first camp workout Saturday, Carter said he was confident of remaining the starter and didn't consider himself in an open competition for the job.
The coach would not say why there was such a drastic change in direction.
"I just couldn't keep him in the plans," Parcells said. "I'm saddened by this because I've got 18 months invested in it ... two offseason programs and a regular season and a playoff game."
Asked why the decision was not made earlier, Parcells said, "We only make decisions based on the information we have."
The Cowboys went 10-6 last season when Carter threw 3,302 yards and 17 touchdowns. But he had 21 interceptions, one of the highest totals in the league.
Testaverde, who played with the Bucs from 1987 to 1992, reunited with Parcells this summer hoping for a chance to start again. The Cowboys also traded for Drew Henson, a top prospect out of Michigan.
Parcells said Testaverde, who has 40,943 career yards passing, would start when the Cowboys play their season opener Sept. 12 at Minnesota. The coach plans to spend as much time in camp as possible getting Henson and second-year quarterback Tony Romo ready to play.