Beuerlein retires, but as a Panther
Steve Beuerlein signed with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday and then immediately retired, ending his 17-year career where he holds every passing record in team history.
“This in my mind was the way it was meant to be,” he said. “I couldn’t think of a better way to bring this 17-year run to an end. My heart has always been here with this organization and when I sat back and decided I wanted to step down, there was no doubt I wanted to do it as a Carolina Panther.”
Beuerlein, 39, was with the Panthers from 1996 to 2000, and went to the Pro Bowl in 1999 after passing for 4,436 yards and 36 touchdowns.
“He’s the best. He’s a pro’s pro,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “He’s got all of the records at Carolina, so he’s gong to retire a Panther. I think that’s a great idea.”
Although Denver, where he spent his last three seasons as a backup quarterback, released him in May, it was only to give him time to decide if he wanted to play another year or retire.
Once his decision was made, he called the Panthers to ask about retiring in Carolina.
“I will always look at myself as a Carolina Panther,” he said. “I will always be proud to have been part of this organization because I know what it stands for and I am so grateful that this organization stepped up and allowed me to go out this way.”
Urlacher injures hamstring on Day 1
Lovie Smith ended his first practice as an NFL head coach by ruling Brian Urlacher out of action indefinitely with a severely pulled right hamstring.
“He didn’t have a season-ending injury,” the Chicago Bears coach said, looking for a bright spot. “Hopefully, it’s a mild one and he’ll be back in only a few weeks or so.”
During a team drill an hour into the session, the Bears’ franchise player got tangled up with center Olin Kreutz and grabbed the back of his right leg at the end of the play. He walked gingerly off the field under his own power and rode into the locker room on a golf cart after a trainer applied ice to the injury.
Urlacher will undergo an MRI today to determine the extent of the pull or to see if a tear exists. He acknowledged to teammates he “popped it pretty good,” but declined to discuss with reporters what he believed the extent of the injury to be or how it happened.
Before the MRI results provide a clearer picture, the best-case scenario probably calls for Urlacher to miss at least the first exhibition game Aug. 12. The worst-case scenario has him inactive for the season opener at Soldier Field a month later.
•Defensive tackle Tommie Harris, the 14th overall pick in the draft, signed with Chicago. The Bears also signed wide receiver Bernard Berrian, their third-rounder.
Woodson holds out for bigger contract
The Oakland Raiders are prepared to deal with what could be a lengthy holdout by star cornerback Charles Woodson.
The Raiders placed the franchise tag on Woodson, a four-time Pro Bowl selection in February. With the franchise designation, he would make about $8.8 million this season, but Woodson hasn’t signed the Raiders’ tender.
By not signing, he’s technically not on the roster and can’t be fined for missing practice once the team starts training camp Friday in Napa, Calif.
Woodson, who’s entering his seventh pro season, has said he wants a big-money long-term contract.
Raiders coach Norv Turner added that he doesn’t expect Woodson to hold out all year.
Taylor injures knee in first practice
A day after signing a 7-year, $18 million contract with the Washington Redskins, rookie safety Sean Taylor sprained his right knee during practice.
Taylor was taken to a local hospital for an MRI and the results were negative. Team trainers characterized his injury as day-to-day and said he could be on the field for the opening of training camp Saturday.
The team’s first-round draft pick was hurt as he rolled out of bounds while defending a play near the end of the practice, which came on the final day of a three-day passing camp.
Signings
The Denver Broncos signed the 17th overall selection, linebacker D.J. Williams. … Running back Kevin Jones, picked 30th, signed with Detroit. The Lions also signed linebacker Teddy Lehman, their second-round pick. … Houston signed cornerback Vontez Duff and safety Glenn Earl. … Arizona signed quarterback John Navarre, its seventh-round pick.