Union Contests Carter’s Release by the Cowboys

The NFL Players Assn. filed a grievance Monday against the Dallas Cowboys on behalf of Quincy Carter, claiming the quarterback was released by the team for reasons not permitted in the NFL collective bargaining agreement.

“You don’t go from being a starting, playoff quarterback in this league to someone not good enough to make the 80-man roster the next summer,” said Richard Berthelsen, the union’s general counsel, in a statement.

The NFLPA filed for a special master proceeding that would be heard by professor Stephen Burbank of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. The union said the first step probably would be the taking of depositions from Cowboy owner Jerry Jones and Coach Bill Parcells.

The team has not given specific reasons for Carter’s release, although there were widespread reports that he had failed a drug test.

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Chris Simms completed 12 of 15 passes for 110 yards to help Tampa Bay to a 20-6 exhibition victory over Cincinnati at Tampa, Fla. Carson Palmer completed three of eight passes for 74 yards with one interception for the Bengals.... Reserve quarterback Seneca Wallace, who completed 14 of 16 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown, led Seattle to a 21-3 victory over the Packers at Green Bay, Wis.

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Oakland Raider offensive lineman Robert Gallery, the second pick of the draft, injured his right elbow in a drill. After X-rays were negative, Gallery said the elbow was sprained and that he didn’t know how long he would be sidelined.

In other training camp news: Former All-Pro cornerback Deion Sanders, 37 and three years removed from his last game, said he’s training in an effort to see whether he can play this season as a nickel back for the Baltimore Ravens.... The Miami Dolphins signed 32-year-old receiver Antonio Freeman.... The Chargers’ Philip Rivers is the final first-round draft choice unsigned after New England agreed to contract terms with tight end Benjamin Watson.

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NFL Network and Comcast, the nation’s leading cable and broadband communications provider, have entered into a multiyear agreement. NFL Network will be added to Comcast’s Digital Plus lineup in most digital cable households this month. The new agreement will add about 7 million households to approximately 15 million that currently get NFL Network.

Basketball

The Clippers have signed second-round draft choice Lionel Chalmers, a point guard who led Xavier to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament by averaging 21.8 points. The Clippers also signed free-agent center Mamadou N’Diaye and swingman Quinton Ross.

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The Charlotte Bobcats traded 6-11 center Predrag Drobnjak to the Atlanta Hawks for a second-round pick in the 2005 draft.... The Orlando Magic signed 7-1 center Mario Kasun, who has spent the last two seasons with the Opel Skyliners in Germany.

Miscellany

After a seven-month search, the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority hired Jim Gallagher as its executive director. Gov. Ernie Fletcher appointed the former New York Racing Authority executive to the position, which had been vacant since January, when Fletcher abolished the Kentucky Racing Commission.

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A jury rejected the claims of Emporia State women’s volleyball Coach Maxine Mehus, who said the university discriminated against her by paying her less than the school’s two basketball coaches at the NCAA Division II school. The university argued that the basketball coaches have greater responsibilities.

Passings

Ivan Hlinka, a former Pittsburgh Penguin coach who led the Czech Republic to a gold medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, died after being injured in a car crash. He was 54. Hlinka’s car collided with a truck late Sunday night near Karlovy Vary.

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A public memorial for former NBA star George Yardley is scheduled for Thursday at noon at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa in Santa Ana. Yardley, 75, died last week at his Newport Beach home of complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.