Flutie hangs ‘em up
Doug Flutie retired Monday, ending a 21-year professional career that saw the undersized Heisman Trophy winner throw one of college football’s most famous passes and go on to play a dozen seasons in the NFL.
The decision by the 43-year-old Flutie was announced by the New England Patriots, for whom he played five games last season.
A resident of Natick, Mass., Flutie won the 1984 Heisman Trophy at Boston College after connecting with Gerard Phelan on a desperation 48-yard touchdown pass to beat Miami as time expired. His signature play remains one of the most memorable in the sport.
Flutie spent 12 seasons in the NFL and also played in the USFL and the Canadian Football League. He won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award six times and the league’s Grey Cup championship three times.
Flutie finishes with 14,715 passing yards and 86 touchdowns in the NFL, spending most of his time as a backup. Last season, he attempted just 10 passes and converted the league’s first drop kick for an extra point since the 1941 NFL title game.
“If that ends up being my last play, it wouldn’t be bad,” Flutie said after the game, a meaningless regular season-ending loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Arbitrator to rule on McNair
The Tennessee Titans have done their best to make Steve McNair feel unwanted. Today, an arbitration hearing offers his best hope for a quick release from the team that originally drafted him in 1995.
Arbitrator John Feerick will hear arguments at the Titans’ headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., that the team breached McNair’s contract April 3 when a trainer told the 2003 co-MVP that he could not work out on the property until he reworked his contract. The union wants McNair to be allowed to work out or be released.
The Titans have denied any breach, and the problem here is money. They want protection from the potential liability of a $23.46 million salary cap hit if McNair is hurt or a new, cheaper contract to reduce that cap number for a player who has missed 10 games the past two seasons.
Bush has precautionary MRI
Reggie Bush underwent an MRI exam on his left hamstring after he spent all three days of the Saints’ rookie camp in Metairie, La., limited to watching or participating in half-speed drills.
Bush and Saints coach Sean Payton so far have shown only minimal concern about the injury.
“It feels good, but obviously not 100 percent,” said Bush, adding he could not recall having a hamstring injury before. “That’s why we’re taking precaution.”
Bush said he expected to be “100 percent” by the end of the week, well ahead of the Saints’ full-squad minicamp slated for June 2-4.
Around the league
The Dolphins saw enough potential in Marcus Vick – both on and off the field – to believe he deserves a chance as a free agent. Vick, the brother of Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick, signed with Miami, agreeing to a free-agent deal after his many problems at Virginia Tech cost him a chance to be selected in the NFL draft. Vick, who participated in a three-day minicamp with the Dolphins earlier this month, completed 177 of 289 passes for 2,393 yards with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, leading Virginia Tech to an 11-2 record and berth in the ACC title game in 2005. … Quarterback Craig Krenzel was waived by the Cincinnati Bengals, who have spent the off-season adding quarterbacks while Carson Palmer recovers from reconstructive knee surgery. The Bengals also waived undrafted rookie tight end Ryan Hamby from Ohio State. Receiver Glenn Holt of Kentucky and cornerback DeMarcus Rideaux of Maryville State agreed to two-year deals. … Lions offensive tackle Jeff Backus agreed to the one-year offer he received when designated the team’s franchise player in February.