Cowboys Decide Banks Won’t Replace Aikman

Tony Banks, signed to be Troy Aikman’s temporary replacement as quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, was released Tuesday after throwing for only 54 yards in two exhibition games.

The move came one day after Cowboy officials said the starting quarterback job was up for grabs.

Banks, who also lost starting jobs in St. Louis and Baltimore, was told he would be the opening day starter when he signed with the Cowboys in March.

The salary cap-strapped Cowboys signed Banks to only a $500,000, one-year contract with no signing bonus, a huge bargain for an NFL starting quarterback. That salary is only $23,000 above the minimum for a veteran.

Banks’ lock on the starting job appeared to be slipping Monday, when owner Jerry Jones and Coach Dave Campo said for the first time they were evaluating the three quarterbacks in camp at Oxnard.

“That’s news to me,” Banks said Monday.

Banks went to practice Tuesday morning but left the field before the workout began.

Quincy Carter, drafted out of Georgia in the second round in April, likely will move to first team with Anthony Wright as his backup. Jones has called Carter the team’s quarterback of the future.

The Tennessee Titans removed All-Pro cornerback Samari Rolle from the physically unable to perform list and put him on the roster for the first time since training camp opened.

Rolle reported to camp and signed a one-year tender for $1.488 million with the promise it would be replaced by a long-term contract.

But a bad hip sidelined Rolle from the first day of camp. Rolle injured the hip during a mini-camp in May.

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The Washington Redskins literally sent Danny Kanell back to the minors, making rookie Sage Rosenfels the starter for Friday night’s exhibition game against the Atlanta Falcons.

With Jeff George and Todd Husak hurt, the Redskins auditioned Kanell, a former New York Giant and Falcon quarterback who is playing minor league baseball with the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League.

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Cornerback Shawn Springs traveled almost 1,800 miles to get a second medical opinion about his torn left hamstring.

Springs left the Seattle Seahawk training camp to have the injury examined by doctors at Ohio State, the school he attended, Coach Mike Holmgren said.

Springs injured the hamstring Saturday in the Seahawks’ 28-21 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in an exhibition game. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.

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An oak tree was planted in Korey Stringer’s honor in front of the Minnesota State residence hall where the Minnesota Vikings stay during training camp.

A plaque will be placed in front of the tree, with the inscription: “Korey Stringer, 1974-2001. In Memory of Big K, Minnesota Vikings No. 77.”

Stringer died Aug. 1 from heatstroke. He collapsed after practice on the field near where the tree was planted.

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Offensive lineman Everett Lindsay, who spent his first six seasons with Minnesota, was traded by the Cleveland Browns back to the Vikings for a future draft choice.

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Defensive tackle Jermaine Haley of the Miami Dolphins was fined $500 and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service after pleading no contest to drunken driving.

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The Chicago Bears signed tight end John Davis to a two-year contract.

Davis was signed to take the roster spot of starting tight end Kaseem Sinceno, who is sidelined for the season because of a fractured ankle.

Davis caught 17 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown last season with the Vikings.

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Defensive lineman Junior Bryant of the San Francisco 49ers will attempt a comeback from a career-threatening neck injury.

Bryant, 30, crashed to the turf helmet-first in a game at St. Louis last season. He later was diagnosed with a bulging disk in the neck and was put on injured reserve.

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The Carolina Panthers released safety Tony Booth and waived receiver Anthony Bright and linebacker Cameron Saulsby. The Panthers picked up undrafted Matt Smith, a linebacker from Oregon, and claimed safety Tony George off waivers from New England.