Dolphins Cut Former All-Pro Sims

Former Pro Bowl guard Keith Sims, who spent most of this season in Coach Jimmy Johnson’s doghouse, was released Tuesday after eight years with the Miami Dolphins.

Sims signed a five-year, $8.5-million contract in 1996, and he rejected Johnson’s request to accept a pay cut this year. Sims has missed most of this season after undergoing elbow surgery in September, and he clashed publicly with Johnson when the coach criticized his play last month.

Johnson didn’t comment on the decision to release Sims.

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Kansas City Chief Coach Marty Schottenheimer hedged on whether Elvis Grbac will replace Rich Gannon at quarterback when he returns, possibly in the regular-season finale, from a broken collarbone.

“Let’s look at it from this perspective,” Schottenheimer said. “We were 7-2 with Elvis Grbac as our starter. We’re 4-1 with Rich Gannon. Both are very, very capable performers and both are individuals that our team has a tremendous amount of confidence in. I understand why people want to talk about it. But to me, it’s not an issue.”

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San Diego Charger running back Terrell Fletcher will undergo arthroscopic surgery today or Thursday to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and will sit out the final two games. . . . Wide receiver Sir Mawn Wilson was signed to the Denver Broncos’ active roster from the practice squad, the team said. The Broncos released free-agent wide receiver David Gamble to make room for Wilson.