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NFL briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 23, 2001

Dolphins get Bears' McNown

DAVIE -- The Dolphins are taking a low-risk chance on quarterback Cade McNown.

The Dolphins traded two picks to the Bears on Wednesday for McNown, a first-round pick in 1999.

Chicago received a sixth-round pick in 2002 and a conditional seventh-round pick the next year. Miami also received a 2002 seventh-round selection.

McNown will compete with Mike Quinn for the third-string job behind starter Jay Fiedler and Ray Lucas.

"I could not be happier with our quarterback play to this point, but any time there's an opportunity to possibly better your football team in the future there's an obligation to do that," Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said.

McNown, the 12th overall pick out of UCLA in 1999, was expected to be the Bears' quarterback of the future. But his short stay in Chicago was tumultuous.

He was 3-12 as a starter and finished with a 67.7 passer rating, completing 281 of 515 for 3,111 yards. He threw 16 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

After a largely ineffective preseason, he dropped behind Jim Miller and Shane Matthews on the depth chart. He was battling Danny Wuerffel for the No. 3 spot.

McNown had to smooth over relations with his receivers last season after he suggested he overthrew them because they were too tired to run under the football.

When he was booed after throwing three interceptions, he suggested fans "save their boos for TV." He apologized.

He was benched after a performance in San Francisco when the Bears failed to cross midfield.

He also missed a charity event he was scheduled to attend.

"A change of scenery is probably going to do him a lot of good," said Dolphins guard Todd Perry, who played the past eight seasons with the Bears. "Chicago is a tough town to play in."

McNown was scheduled to arrive in Miami on Wednesday night and would need to pass a physical before the deal was official. Wannstedt said McNown would not play Saturday night against the Packers and might not play in the team's preseason finale Aug. 31 against Minnesota.

McNown will be evaluated based on meetings and practice drills, Wannstedt said.

REPLACEMENT REFS HIRED: The NFL began hiring replacement officials, paying each $4,000 even if the league's dispute with the officials' union is settled. The league said it is ready to put them on the field for the final preseason game.

The league sent letters to officials in college football, the Arena Football League and NFL Europe asking if they would be interested if there was a strike or lockout.

The Washington Post reported that Ed Hochuli, a top referee and president of the union, sent an e-mail to 1,200 potential replacements saying, "Don't go down as one of the scabs who stabbed the NFL guys in the back."

HALL OF FAME: Former Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins coach George Allen was selected as the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Senior Committee finalist for 2002. Allen, who died Dec. 30, 1990, at 72, will join 14 to-be-determined candidates from the modern era as finalists for induction.

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