Cowboys cut Carter; Brown out in Oakland

In a shocking and unexpected development, quarterback Quincy Carter is no longer with the Dallas Cowboys after directing them to the playoffs last season.

Tim Brown, one of the top receivers in the NFL, is out after 16 seasons in Oakland.

On a day of departures in the NFL, Carter's release was a shock after he started every game in a 10-6 season and guided the Cowboys into the playoffs. The move left 40-year-old Vinny Testaverde as the starter, with the untested Drew Henson and Tony Romo behind him. Henson, considered a top prospect, has never played an NFL game and played baseball in the New York Yankees' farm system for three years.

"We've made a decision to move in a different direction," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said amid reports Carter failed a drug test. "We're not going to get in a lot of detail on the process."

The NFL had no comment, its standard response to drug-related inquiries.

The release of the 38-year-old Brown was hardly a shock.

Salary cap constraints and the reality of reduced playing time persuaded Raiders owner Al Davis to part ways with the last member of the Los Angeles Raiders. Brown, who will be released Thursday, holds most of the club's receiving records, and his 240 games in Silver and Black are the most in franchise history.

"It's emotionally difficult. It's a part of your life,"Davis said.

Brown ranks second in NFL history with 14,734 yards receiving and third with 1,070 catches. His 99 touchdown receptions are tied with Don Hutson for fourth, and his 19,434 all-purpose yards are fifth.