McNown Taking Insurers to Court

Cade McNown, a standout quarterback from UCLA who had a brief and unspectacular pro career, is suing two insurance companies for failure to pay his $5-million NFL disability policy.

McNown, whose pro career ended in 2003, filed a lawsuit this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court against underwriters from Lloyd’s of London and Peterson International, claiming they failed to make good on his policy after he suffered a career-ending shoulder injury.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday and “seeks to recover permanent disability insurance benefits unjustly and maliciously delayed and denied.”

McNown also seeks to recover attorney fees and costs, and punitive damages. The case has been assigned to Judge Haley Fromholz.

An All-American quarterback for the Bruins, McNown was selected 12th overall by the Chicago Bears in 1999.

He started the final six games of his rookie season and the first eight of his second season with the Bears, going 3-11 over that span.

In the eighth game of his second season, McNown suffered a separated shoulder when he was slammed to the turf in the second quarter at Philadelphia.

He returned to play in the final two games that season, but never appeared in another NFL game.

McNown was traded to Miami in 2001 and to San Francisco the next season, before being released by the 49ers during the 2003 off-season.

His rights were obtained by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, but he was never signed.

In September 1999, McNown and other UCLA players were charged with illegal possession of placards to park in handicapped spaces. McNown pleaded no contest to the charge.