Johnson’s Tough Call: Del Rio Released

Calling it the most difficult roster decision he has ever had to make, Miami Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson released veteran linebacker Jack Del Rio on Monday.

“Jack is a true professional. He’s intelligent, a competitor, and a team player,” Johnson said.

Del Rio, 33, said he doesn’t plan to try to hook up with another team and will retire after 11 seasons in the NFL.

“I’m not going to move my family around the country anymore,” said Del Rio, who played with five teams in his career. “We’re going to leave football now and we will get on with the rest of our lives.”

His release became necessary because of the solid play of rookie Zach Thomas, a fifth-round draft pick from Texas Tech.

“I came in and played hard and I thought I competed well,” Del Rio said. “I appreciate having one last shot …”

Johnson, who wants a better running game to complement Dan Marino’s arm, likes what he’s seen from speedy rookie Jerris McPhail.

The 5-foot-11, 200 pounder, a fifth-round draft pick from East Carolina, is not only the fastest Dolphin, but also runs with power.

Quarterback shuffle

Dave Brown is out as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback - at least for this weekend’s game against Baltimore.

In a surprising move, coach Dan Reeves said Tommy Maddox will start Saturday at Giants Stadium and Brown won’t even play because he doesn’t want him working with the second team.

The backup job will go to Stan White, who has never taken a snap in two NFL seasons.

Reeves stressed the decision was made to give Maddox the opportunity to work with the first team in a game and to see whether White might challenge Maddox for the No. 2 position.

Reeves also said rookie Danny Kanell, the team’s fourth-round draft pick, will be the No. 3 quarterback this year.

Rhett’s holdout resumes

The end to Errict Rhett’s training camp holdout was only temporary. Tampa Bay’s third-year running back was a no-show for practice Monday, resuming a walkout that’s costing him up to $5,000 a day while he and his agent attempt to renegotiate a contract scheduled to pay him $336,000 this season.

Rhett, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards each of the last two seasons, is seeking a long-term deal worth $3 million per year, including a hefty signing bonus. The Bucs offered a six-year package averaging $2.3 million annually before training camp began, but are insisting now that Rhett play this year under terms of his current contract.

The tailback has missed 13 days of camp.

Around the league

Indianapolis Colts owner Robert Irsay has been hospitalized again, this time for pneumonia. Irsay, 73, entered the hospital on Friday and was expected to stay about a week, said his wife, Nancy.

Irsay had been recovering at his Carmel home from a stroke on Nov. 29 that had put him in the hospital for five months.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive line coach Tim Krumrie pleaded guilty to drunken driving and was fined $1,000 and had his driver’s license suspended for six months. He had been arrested July 22.

Arizona Cardinals guard Duval Love underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and is expected to miss at least two weeks of practice.

Love, the team’s only offensive lineman to start every game at the same position last season, might be able to play by Aug. 23, when the Cardinals finish the exhibition season at Atlanta.

Willie Anderson signed a five-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, two days after the former Auburn offensive lineman agreed to terms, which weren’t disclosed. He was drafted 10th overall.

Chiefs 32, Cowboys 6

Kansas City, which is auditioning two kickers, used four field goals, two of them long ones, in trouncing Dallas Monday night before a sold-out crowd of 45,218 in Monterrey, Mexico.

Kickers Roman Anderson and Bjorn Nittmo, both formerly of the Canadian Football League, bidding to replace last year’s kicker, Lin Elliott, who was released after he missed three field goals in a 10-7 playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts, each nailed two field goals.

In the first half, Anderson made both field goals he tried - from 19 and 29 yards - and an extra point. In the second half, Nittmo hit booming 50- and 48-yard field goals with room to spare.

Dallas’ highlight was a 62-yard pass-run play from quarterback Troy Aikman to defensive back-turned receiver Deion Sanders in the first quarter. The Cowboys had to settle for a field goal, however.

Star running back Emmitt Smith was sidelined with a throat infection.