Gannon May Have to Retire

Raider Coach Norv Turner hinted Sunday that Rich Gannon’s career is over in Oakland, raising doubt the quarterback will play again after a serious neck injury.

“Rich hasn’t come out and publicly made any statements, but from a physical standpoint, it would be very difficult for him to play,” Turner said.

Turner said that Gannon, who turns 40 in December, will not attend the team’s mandatory minicamp next weekend and will be the only player not to participate. Turner expects no announcement before June 1 because of salary cap constraints.

Gannon, the NFL’s 2002 most valuable player, fractured a vertebra in his neck in the third week last season in a helmet-to-helmet collision with Tampa Bay Buccaneer linebacker Derrick Brooks.

Gannon has passed for 28,743 yards and 180 touchdowns in 18 NFL seasons with Minnesota, Washington, Kansas City and Oakland. He won his MVP award while leading the Raiders to the Super Bowl in the 2002 season.

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Cleveland Brown quarterback Luke McCown was traded to Tampa Bay for a sixth-round pick in this year’s NFL draft.

McCown started four games as a rookie last season after Jeff Garcia and Kelly Holcomb got hurt. In five games, McCown completed 48 of 98 passes for 608 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions.

McCown lost all of his starts for the Browns.