Redskins Release Backup Johnson

Washington changed backup quarterbacks Wednesday, signing Tim Hasselbeck and cutting former USC standout Rob Johnson.

Hasselbeck was on Carolina’s roster for one game last year, then played in two games with Philadelphia as a holder late in the season.

Hasselbeck’s older brother Matt is the starting quarterback for Seattle.

Johnson, signed by the Redskins during the off-season, appeared in the last two games. He completed five of seven passes for 39 yards and was sacked three times.

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Quarterback Steve McNair of Tennessee declined to comment about drunken driving and weapons charges that were sent to a grand jury.

McNair returned to practice, one day after a judge ruled enough evidence existed for a grand jury to consider the charges from his May 22 arrest.

“As long as I set my priorities straight, what happens off the football field stays off it, and once I come to practice and come to work, no problem,” McNair said.

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Running back Corey Dillon feels unappreciated in Cincinnati and says he’d be better off elsewhere.

After watching practice from the sideline because of a strained groin, Dillon said he hasn’t gotten the ball enough in recent years, even when he has been healthy. He added that he’s tired of his treatment by fans and the media, who have started questioning his durability.

“I would prefer to be in a place where I’m appreciated,” Dillon said. “It could be anywhere. Who knows? I’m just going to get to a place where I’m happy and I feel appreciated and they recognize my talents and I can achieve my goals.”

Dillon skipped the first voluntary minicamp under first-year Coach Marvin Lewis and was the only regular to show up late for training camp. Lewis has urged Dillon to talk to the media regularly but has been rebuffed.

By venting his frustrations, Dillon violated Lewis’ insistence on keeping team matters private. Lewis said he won’t punish Dillon for his remarks, which he shrugged off as nothing more than a spat between a player and the media.

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Miami linebacker Junior Seau insisted he meant no harm when he suggested the way to stop former San Diego teammate LaDainian Tomlinson was to feed him fried chicken and watermelon.

Asked how to limit Tomlinson, the Chargers’ star running back, Seau told reporters: “You give him watermelon and load him up with fried chicken and tell him to keep eating.”

Seau, who is of Samoan descent, later said he and Tomlinson, who is black, are friends and the comment was meant in jest. Seau was wearing a Tomlinson jersey when he made the comment.

“We ate that all the time. We’d have fried chicken every Friday,” Seau said. “I’m sorry you guys took it that way. I should have realized it was an oversight on my part. I’m sorry it came out that way.”

Tomlinson said he laughed when he heard Seau’s words.

“I wasn’t offended at all,” Tomlinson said. “You just have to know Junior. He’s silly like that.”

The Dolphins and Chargers play Monday night.

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Rich Gannon’s status for Oakland’s next game remained uncertain after the team declined to release the results of tests on the quarterback’s bruised throwing shoulder.

Coach Bill Callahan referred all questions about Gannon’s MRI exam to the quarterback, but Gannon declined to comment. He directed reporters back to Callahan.

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Running back Edgerrin James is expected to start when Indianapolis plays host to Houston on Sunday.

James has sat out the last three games because of a lower back injury.

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His voice rising in anger, Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington criticized teammates for not taking the team’s three-game losing streak seriously enough.

“The guys that are laughing and joking and hollering like this doesn’t mean anything, they need to reevaluate why they play ball,” Arrington said.