49ers Acquire McNown in Trade With Dolphins

The San Francisco 49ers think they have a good eye for quarterback talent, and they still see something in Cade McNown.

McNown, a former first-round draft pick who was a spectacular failure with the Chicago Bears, was traded by the Miami Dolphins to San Francisco on Thursday for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2003.

McNown was reviled by Chicago’s fans during two tumultuous seasons, and he never got off the bench last season with the Dolphins. None of it mattered to the 49ers, who believe the former UCLA star still can be a quality NFL quarterback.

“This is an opportunity to take a good look at a player we liked a great deal several years ago,” General Manager and former UCLA coach Terry Donahue said. “We’d like to see if that potential is still there, and whether we could develop it.”

The 49ers also signed defensive tackle Jim Flanigan to a two-year, $1.4-million contract that includes a $100,000 signing bonus.

Donahue recruited McNown in the last years of his two decades as the Bruins’ coach, but that familiarity wasn’t the reason for the trade. The team’s brain trust, including Bill Walsh and Coach Steve Mariucci, wants to see if McNown can be effective in the 49ers’ West Coast offense.

“There’s been a lot of guys taken in the first round at that position that haven’t been successful,” Donahue said. “There’s lots of reasons. Sometimes it’s the player’s fault, sometimes it’s the fit. I think I’ll know more after Cade has had a chance to be in our system and work with our coaches.”

Donahue left UCLA after McNown’s freshman season. McNown was a four-year starter, setting the Pacific 10 Conference record for total offense as well as several school records.

“I’m looking forward to my opportunity with the 49ers,” McNown said in a statement issued by Miami. “I know I can be a quality player in the league, and I hope I get a chance to show that in San Francisco.”

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Terrell Davis was back on the practice field, only three weeks after knee surgery. The injury-plagued Denver Bronco running back initially didn’t expect to be back until the start of training camp after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee May 20. But after running on the side without pain on Tuesday, Davis decided to test out the knee on the fourth day of the five-day mini camp.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to a one-year, $775,000 contract with Terance Mathis, a 12-year veteran who led the Atlanta Falcons in receiving last season with 51 catches and 564 yards. The team also gave running back Amos Zereoue a three-year contract extension.

Jurisprudence

A police officer has been indicted on charges he interfered with the investigation into the fatal shooting at the home of former NBA star Jayson Williams.

Eric Allena, a Bridgewater Township police officer, was charged with second-degree official misconduct and third-degree tampering with witnesses.

His lawyer, Steven Lieberman, said Allena was innocent and “looks forward to proving it.”

The 27-year-old Allena, who joined the Bridgewater force in 1998, was suspended without pay after he turned himself in and surrendered his weapon. He was freed after posting $10,000 bail.

Authorities say Allena, a friend of Williams, was off duty when he went to the Alexandria Township mansion on Feb. 14, just hours after Costas “Gus” Christofi was killed.

Prosecutor Steven Lember said Allena got access to the crime scene and told witnesses not to give information to investigators.

Chicago Bear wide receiver David Terrell was charged with misdemeanor simple battery after an argument with parking attendants, police said.

Terrell and two other men allegedly argued with parking attendants outside a downtown nightclub and some punches were thrown, police spokesman Ozzie Rodriguez said. One attendant was struck in the face but did not seek medical treatment.

Two men with Terrell also were charged with the misdemeanor, Rodriguez said. Terrell posted $100 bail and was released about six hours later, according to police spokeswoman Laura Kubiak.

Miscellany

Steve Lewis, fired earlier in the week after 20 years as a track coach at the University of Pittsburgh, issued a statement condemning what he called “racial and gender hate” and “dollar mongers” at the school.

Lewis, who was let go Monday, joined Pitt as an assistant coach in 1982. He was the women’s coach for 18 years and the men’s coach for eight, coaching three NCAA champions, 58 NCAA All-Americans and 103 Big East Conference champions.

“The only stipulation I put on myself when I decided to coach on the college level ... was to never be like them. Who are they? They are the people who are insensitive to the needs and particulars of young people. They are the greedy. They are the dollar mongers. They are the users of flesh. They are clearly self-serving,” he said in the statement.

Paul Sanderford resigned as women’s basketball coach at Nebraska, citing poor health and a desire to help his family and the school. Sanderford said he was advised by his doctors that he needed to have a change in lifestyle. He refused to comment on his ailment.... Kevin McGuff, a Notre Dame assistant for the last six years, was introduced as the new women’s basketball coach at Xavier University. McGuff, 32, takes over for Melanie Balcomb, who left two weeks ago to become head coach at Vanderbilt.

Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong maintained the overall lead in the Dauphine Libere cycling race as Patrice Halgand of France won the fourth stage of the competition. Armstrong, who leads American Floyd Landis by 16 seconds, is using the competition to train for the Tour de France, which starts July 6.

The weeklong 683.5-mile race ends Sunday in Geneva, Switzerland. Today’s fifth stage is a 126.5-mile run from Digne-Les-Bains to Grenoble.