| MCNOWN RELEASED - The San Francisco
49ers waived onetime Chicago quarterback Cade McNown on Saturday, the latest
disappointment for the former first-round draft pick. McNown was acquired
from the Miami Dolphins last June, and after having shoulder surgery in August
he spent the season on injured reserve. He worked out with receiver Terrell
Owens during the offseason, but he was among five quarterbacks under contract
with the 49ers. McNown was the 12th overall pick by Chicago in the
1999 draft. He started 15 games for the Bears but threw 19 interceptions
to go with 16 touchdown passes. He was traded to Miami but did not play during
his one season as the Dolphins' third-string quarterback.
(5/17/03)
Season-Ending Surgery - McNown needs surgery on his left shoulder and will miss the season. General manager Terry Donahue said Tuesday that McNown will have the operation in the next few weeks and will be placed on injured reserve. The injury to the shoulder first occurred two years ago, when McNown was the Chicago Bears' starter. McNown was competing to be the 49ers' third-stringer behind Jeff Garcia and Tim Rattay. The No. 3 job now apparently will go to rookie Brandon Doman. (8/27/02) TRADED AGAIN - McNown was acquired by the San Francisco 49ers from the Miami Dolphins for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2003. "This is an opportunity to take a good look at a player we liked a great deal several years ago," general manager Terry Donahue said. "We'd like to see if that potential is still there, and whether we could develop it." Donahue recruited McNown to UCLA in the final years of his two decades as the Bruins' coach, but that familiarity wasn't the reason for the trade. The team's braintrust, including Bill Walsh and coach Steve Mariucci, wants to see if McNown can be effective in the 49ers' West Coast offense. The 49ers will give a draft pick to Miami only if McNown is on their 53-man roster for at least five weeks during the regular season. In San Francisco, McNown will compete with Tim Rattay, Gio Carmazzi, and rookie Brandon Doman for a job behind Pro Bowl selection Jeff Garcia. "There's been a lot of guys taken in the first round at that position that haven't been successful," Donahue said. "There's lots of reasons. Sometimes it's the player's fault, sometimes it's the fit. I think I'll know more after Cade has had a chance to be in our system and work with our coaches." “I’m looking forward to my opportunity with the 49ers,” said McNown. “I learned a lot in my year in Miami, and I think I will be a better player because of that. I know I can be a quality player in the league, and I hope I get a chance to show that in San Francisco.” (6/13/02) TRADED - McNown was traded to the Miami Dolphins after being largely ineffective during the preseason and falling on the Bears' depth chart. Jim Miller and Shane Matthews had been competing for the #1 spot while McNown seemed to be in a battle with Danny Wuerffel for the third spot. The trade gave the Bears a sixth-round draft pick in 2002 and a conditional seventh-round pick in 2003 that could end up being higher. Along with McNown, the Dolphins also got a seventh-round pick in 2002. Read the whole story on the Articles page. (8/22/01) Benched - McNown has been benched by Coach Jauron for the last game of the season. It appears that some players threatened to sit out the last game if McNown started. Players were said to be upset with McNown's lack of preparation and poor performance in San Francisco last week where the Bears failed to cross midfield. Read the whole story on the Articles page. (12/20/00) Injured - McNown separated his left shoulder in Sunday's game against the Eagles. He could be sidelined for a month. Read the whole story on the Articles page. (10/23/00) Booed - McNown was booed by fans after throwing three interceptions against the Detroit Lions in Chicago. After the game, McNown lashed out at the Soldier Field fans, suggesting they "save their boos for TV.'' The next day he apologized. Read the whole story on the Articles page. (9/26/00) A Softy? - A Chicago columnist for the Daily Southtown has questioned Cade's decision to take himself out of the second half of last week's game against the Rams. Does Cade really have a "weak resolve?" Do you agree with the column or do you have a different take? We will be placing some fan response on this page. If you don't want your comments to appear on the page, please state so. Leave your name, city and state, and age (all of which will appear with your comments). (1/2/00) Out of Play - Cade sat out the second half of Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams with a strained right thigh. It was unclear when McNown, who was 9-for-16 for 125 yards in the first half, was injured. He came out of the locker room shortly after the second half began wearing his uniform minus the shoulder pads. McNown was sacked four times in the half. Jay Williams dropped him for a nine-yard loss on the final play before the break. The Rams defeated the Bears 34-12. (12/26/99) Record Rookie - Cade became the first Bears rookie to throw for 300 yards in a game as Chicago defeated the Lions 28-10. McNown hooked up with Marcus Robinson for 3 of his four touchdowns on the day. He finished 27-of-36 for 301 yards with two interceptions in his fourth start, and also rushed for 36 yards on nine carries. Robinson finished with 170 yards on 11 catches. (12/20/99) Walter Payton (1954-1999) - Chicago Bears hero Walter Payton, the NFL's greatest rusher, died Monday of bile duct cancer that was discovered earlier this year during his treatment for a rare liver disease. He was 45. Payton rushed for 16,726 yards in his 13-year career, one of sport's most awesome records. Payton is survived by his wife, Connie, son, Jarrett, and daughter, Brittney. (11/1/99) First Start - Cade will become the third of this year's promising crop of rookie quarterbacks to make his first NFL start when the Chicago Bears host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Regular starter Shane Matthews suffered a pulled hamstring in last Sunday's 24-22 win at Minnesota and is out for this weekend's game. Jim Miller will serve as the backup to McNown. McNown has played in each of Chicago's first five games. On Sunday, McNown completed 9-of-14 passes for 97 yards after replacing the injured Matthews. In five games, McNown is 19-of-34 for 216 yards. (10/12/99) Fined - McNown pleaded NO contest to illegally using a handicapped placard to park in spaces reserved for the disabled. Former Bruins McNown, Craig Walendy and Eric Whitfield have been fined $1485 each and placed on probation. The trio will also be required to perform 200 hours of community service. McNown has yet to admit wrongdoing and to take responsibility for his actions. (10/1/99) Not Talking - Cade McNown would like to say why he had a handicapped parking pass. He wishes he could explain why he shouldn't be branded like other players in UCLA's handicapped parking scandal. "But right now I can't because it's a legal matter," he said Wednesday. "His case is so different from the others," Ron Safer, McNown's lawyer, said. "He was a one-time applicant. He was injured. He did not falsify the signature. These factors put him outside the essence of this charge." The Los Angeles city attorney's office, however, disagrees. "We looked at these cases long and hard before we filed them," deputy city attorney Brian Williams said. "We know we can prove the cases, there's no doubt about that. "We're alleging there is a false name on the application, or the doctor who signed it says she didn't." While his injury might have been legitimate - the Orange County Register reported that a "possibly torn ACL" was listed as his disability - the doctor whose signature appeared on the application told investigators she did not sign it and that McNown wasn't her patient. "Cade did not complete that portion of the form," Safer said, adding that he can't say who did. McNown did have a handicapped pass, Safer said, but he applied for it after he was injured during offseason training. He was still recuperating when he received the pass a few weeks later, Safer said. "He never used it to park in a handicapped spot. He carried it with him only a handful of times when he was recuperating," Safer said. "If he had it to do over again, because of the way others used stickers, he would not have applied for this." McNown stopped carrying the pass once he got healthy, even though it was good until June 1997, Safer said. When he played in spring practice, the pass was in a drawer, Safer said. McNown never applied for another one, Safer added. McNown, who didn't appear in court Tuesday, was upbeat after Wednesday's practice. He had an animated discussion with coach Dick Jauron as they walked off the field, and then addressed a large crowd of media around his locker despite not having much to say. "If you want to ask football questions at this point, you're probably better off," he said. "You'll get an answer." While McNown admits the case is "a distraction," Jauron said he hasn't shown it. "In the general terms that we've ever spoken about it, he understands there's clearly something wrong with the general issue and the specifics of it," Jauron said. "He's focused, and hopefully this will get cleared up real soon." (9/16/99) Charged - Cade was charged Monday with illegally possessing a handicapped parking placard while he played football at UCLA. Washington Redskins running back Skip Hicks and three other men were charged as well. The misdemeanor charges filed by the City Attorney's Office brought to 19 the number of current and former Bruins alleged to be part of the handicapped parking scam. Also named in the new charges were Larry Atkins, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, former UCLA linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and current UCLA player Eric Whitfield. McNown is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday morning in Los Angeles Municipal Court. McNown, Hicks and Whitfield were alleged to have illegally obtained the handicapped parking placards in 1996; and Ayanbadejo and Atkins in 1997. (9/13/99) Not Stainless Steel - McNown played the second and third quarters of a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday after seeing minimal playing time - he was 2-of-6 for 24 yards - the week before in a 9-6 Bears victory over Indianapolis. Playing much of the time in a torrential rain, McNown was 10 for 21 for 123 yards with one interception. At least four of his incompletions were eminently catchable, including what would have been a 41-yarder to Marcus Robinson, who was unable to keep both feet inbounds. McNown was also sacked on third and 13 from the Bears' 18 when second-year tackle Chad Overhauser badly missed his man. But on his first series, McNown's mistake was all his own as he scrambled on a play-action, then fired into the arms of cornerback Deshea Townsend, 8 yards downfield and pinned on the sideline along with intended target Macey Brooks. McNown did engineer one impressive drive, a nine-play, 59-yard march that lasted 3:55 of the third quarter and culminated in a 36-yard field goal by Sauerbrun, still filling in for place-kicker Jeff Jaeger. McNown completed 4 of 6 attempts on the drive, including a 22-yarder to Alonzo Mayes, a 17-yarder to Macey Brooks and a 14-yard screen pass to running back Jim Finn. But several passes, including some completions, were ill-timed, and McNown fumbled and recovered one center exchange from Casey Weigmann. (8/15/99) A First Time For Everything - Cade will get his first opportunity to work with the first-team offense when the Bears play the Pittsburgh Steelers in their second preseason game Friday night in Pittsburgh. Coach Dick Jauron said McNown will play the second quarter and the beginning of the third quarter. Shane Matthews will start, and Moses Moreno, who didn't play in last week's preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts, will finish up. McNown is expecting to improve on his performance against the Colts. In three drives, he was 2-for-6 for 24 yards, leading the Bears to a field goal on his final drive. "It's going to be a short week again, but that's all right," McNown said. "I think every day will be better. I'll get some of the same looks more than once and start to get used to those things. I look to have some improvement this week." Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton is pleased with McNown. "He's coming," Crowton said. "He made strides just from his game experience after talking to him and watching him practice [Monday]. "I can see the strides [he's making]. He recognizes mistakes. He has a lot of energy. He just needs to get reps and get comfortable with the people around him." (8/11/99) Debut - McNown was 2-of-6 for 24 yards in his debut as a Chicago Bear, as the Bears beat the Colts 9-6 in a preseason game. His first two series were forgettable. On the third, Cade McNown showed flashes of why the Chicago Bears picked him 12th overall and paid him all that money. With an extra chance to run the offense, McNown led the Bears on a 56-yard, eight-play drive that included an impressive 21-yard throw and another grip-it-and-rip-it that kept the series alive. See the Articles page for more details on Cade's debut. (8/8/99) SIGNED! - Cade signed a seven-year deal with the Bears Monday afternoon that includes a $6.1 million signing bonus. McNown, who immediately becomes the leading candidate to claim the Bears' starting quarterback job, can make as much as $22 million with incentives and bonuses, according to his agent, Tom Condon. The last two years of the contract are voidable. The contract will be worth at least $15 million over the first five years if none of the incentives are reached. Condon said that "talks were amicable" and that his client was excited about joining the team. Cade arrived Monday at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, where Condon had been meeting earlier in the day with Bears negotiator Jim Miller. He said he couldn't wait to get to training camp in Platteville, Wis., and learn the Bears' new offensive system. (8/2/99) Bears Raise Offer - The Bears offered rookie quarterback Cade McNown a seven-year deal with the final two years voidable, including a signing bonus "substantially" higher than the $5 million bonus given to Minnesota's Daunte Culpepper, in an attempt Saturday to end McNown's nine-day holdout. The Bears say that they modeled this latest offer after the five-year, $7 million contract signed by Culpepper, who was chosen 11th by the Vikings, one spot ahead of McNown. The Culpepper deal did not include voidable years. One difference is that Culpepper's deal includes escalator clauses that would pay him $6 million a season in the final two years of the deal if he's among the leading passers in the NFL. The Bears' offer to McNown has no such provision. The two sides talked Sunday and Condon and McNown plan to fly to Chicago on Monday to meet again with Jim Miller, the team's chief negotiator. (8/1/99) Talks Moving Again - Friday produced some movement in negotiations between the Bears and McNown agent Tom Condon, more than had been achieved anytime previously. After trading proposals as camp opened last week, the sides had little contact through the middle of the week as the NFL conducted meetings in Chicago. Condon talked with Bears President Ted Phillips and negotiator Jim Miller on Thursday night and again with Miller on several occasions Friday. The Bears are reconsidering seven-year contract proposals by Condon that included more than the one voidable year offered by the Bears in their last proposal. (7/30/99) Quarterback of the Year - Cade was recently selected as the National Quarterback Club College Quarterback of the Year. The presentation was made at the annual awards ceremony, held in June in Denver, Colorado in honor of the QB Club's AFC quarterback of the year, John Elway of the Denver Broncos. Randall Cunningham was selected as the NFC Quarterback of the Year and Chris Simms (son of former NFL Quarterback Phil Simms) was awarded the High School quarterback of the year trophy. The National Quarterback Club is the official social organization of the NFL Quarterback Club and this year's banquet was the 14th Annual awards dinner. Past college winners include Peyton Manning, 1997, Troy Aikman, 1988, and Vinny Testaverde, 1986. (7/27/99) No Deal - Agent Tom Condon responded Monday to the Bears' latest contract proposal by asking for the same deal he's wanted from the beginning, said Jim Miller, the Bears' director of business operations. McNown and Condon want a seven-year contract that could be voided after three years if the quarterback meets certain performance incentives. The Bears could buy back years four, five and six of the deal, but they would have to, in essence, negotiate a new deal and pay a second signing bonus. Miller, who returned to Chicago to meet with Bears president Ted Phillips, told Condon his response was "unacceptable." (7/27/99) New Offer - The Chicago Bears submitted a revised contract proposal that they hope moves closer to what McNown and agent Tom Condon want, Bears' director of business operations Jim Miller said Sunday. Miller said he expected a response after Condon studied the proposal and talked to McNown. ``We made a few, which we think are substantive, changes in what we've proposed before,'' Miller said. ``It's an effort to get to that middle ground that we've been talking about. It's not as far as they'd like us to have gone, but anyway, it's something that we think we've made a substantial move.'' He cautioned that the new proposal does not necessarily mean a deal is next. ``There's nothing that I would categorize as monumental progress, imminent or anything like that,'' he said. ``We've made a move toward them, and let's just see how they respond.'' The sticking point in negotiations with McNown has been voidable years, which would allow him to opt out of the last two or three years of a long-term deal. While the Bears don't believe in voidable years, president Ted Phillips said the deal could be structured with ``elements of a voidable contract in it.'' Miller didn't want to describe the proposal further until he heard from Condon. By late Sunday, Miller hadn't heard back from the agent. McNown has missed three days of training camp so far, though the Bears didn't practice Sunday. With veteran Erik Kramer's release two days before camp, it's clear McNown will be the team's No. 1 quarterback, and every day of practice he misses puts him further behind in learning the offense. (7/26/99) Not Camping - Cade was not present at the first day of training camp on Friday as his contract is still being worked out. Both sides seem eager to get Cade at camp as soon as possible, but there is still no sign of a deal. The issue of voidable years seems to be the sticking point. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that McNown's absence could be a long one. Bears negotiator Jim Miller said Thursday the Bears are philosophically opposed to voidable years--Curtis Enis held out for 25 days last year because of the same issue--and will not agree to a contract that includes them. Condon likewise has not indicated he will move from his proposal. The Bears are taking an aggressive stance, and are willing to wait out McNown, who was the 12th overall selection of the April draft. Of the five quarterbacks taken in the first round, only Cleveland's Tim Couch, also represented by Condon, is signed. (7/25/99) Sign Him - The Chicago Sun-Times reports that negotiations between the Bears and representatives for rookie quarterback Cade McNown remained stalled Wednesday, making it a long shot that McNown will be signed in time to report to training camp at 7 tonight in Platteville, Wis. A last-minute deal could get McNown in camp in time for the first practice at 8:45 a.m. Friday. But the sides have a huge gap to bridge to get there. "Everybody wants to get it done," Bears president Ted Phillips told Chet Coppock on WMAQ radio, the Bears' flagship station. "Those kinds of deals have a tendency to get done right at the last hour. So I'm still hopeful. But we've got a ways to go." Both sides seem determined to wait until the last minute. They did not negotiate Wednesday. Phillips and team negotiator Jim Miller met with McNown's agents, Tom Condon and former Chicagoan Ken Kremer, for six hours Tuesday. (7/22/99) Who's On 1st? - After months of declaring that veteran Erik Kramer would be their starting quarterback, the Bears abruptly reversed themselves Tuesday, waiving the 10-year veteran and placing their future squarely in the hands of unsigned rookie Cade McNown. McNown's agent, Tom Condon, traveled to Chicago and was meeting with Bears officials early Tuesday, suggesting that McNown's signing is imminent. McNown is expected to sign a multiyear deal with the final year or two voidable if he reaches certain playing incentives. Kramer, 34, was released 48 hours after traveling to Chicago for a workout with the team to assess the condition of his surgically repaired right shoulder. Bears officials said Kramer threw well Sunday, but he had thrown little in the final off-season workouts, and the extra practice time afforded the team's four other quarterbacks was enough for coaches to conclude that Kramer was expendable. The move sends the Bears to training camp this week with McNown, Shane Matthews, Jim Miller and Moses Moreno as their quarterbacks. None of them has ever been a full-season NFL starter. "The four quarterbacks, the way they performed in the off-season, was a big plus for us," Bears personnel Vice President Mark Hatley said. Kramer, signed as a free agent from the Detroit Lions in 1994, leaves the Bears with franchise records for pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdown passes in a season, all in 1995. Note: Members of "The Cade McNown Page E-Mail Update List" received news of this development hours after it hit the press. If you'd like to receive late breaking updates on Cade, join the e-mail update list now. It's completely free and easy to sign-up. (7/20/99) Get it Straight - Cade has finally spoken out about the allegations and mass speculation that has been generated by the media over the last few days regarding handicapped parking permits. (7/20/99) Car Trouble - The Oregonian is reporting that Cade has been cited to appear in Lake Oswego (Oregon) Municipal Court on an accusation of careless driving. The West Linn native is to appear at 4 p.m. July 28 and faces a fine of up to $500 after being cited in a two-vehicle crash this week in Lake Oswego. McNown, 22, was driving his older brother's Chevrolet Suburban when he ran into the rear of a Ford Windstar minivan at about 4:25 p.m. Sunday, a Lake Oswego Police report said. The driver of the van, Kalin M. Rudolph, 34, and a passenger Andrew Umberger, 8, both of Beaverton, sustained minor injuries. They were taken to Legacy Meridian Park Hospital in Tualatin, where they were treated and released. Three other passengers in the van, all minors, were not injured. McNown, his brother Mark Jeffrey McNown, 26, and sister-in-law Heather L. McNown, 27, refused medical treatment, the police report said. (7/17/99) A Handicap? - Last week, 14 current and former UCLA football players were charged with misdemeanor counts of illegally possessing handicapped parking placards by submitting false applications to the DMV. The Los Angeles Times is now reporting they have found that Department of Motor Vehicle records show McNown had applied for and received a handicapped parking permit as well from February through mid-June 1997, shortly after his sophomore season. Details of these allegations are very sketchy. DMV records do not indicate why the placard was granted, yet the LA Times is throwing wood into the speculation bonfire with many questionable comments about McNown's state of physical health at the time. Stay tuned to this page for late-breaking updates on this story. (7/17/99) Up Close - Cade appeared on ESPN's "Up Close" this week and discussed everything from contracts to his future with the Bears. (7/11/99) First "Sign"s - Left tackle Andy Heck, an anchor of one of the NFL's better pass-blocking units in recent seasons and the Bears' first major signing of the free-agency era, is slated to be cut. The move saves the Bears Heck's base salary of $2.2 million under this year's salary cap and paves the way for the start of substantive negotiations with Cade McNown. The salary savings from the Heck release will give the Bears most of the cap space they need for their $4.5 million rookie pool. Based on 1998 patterns, McNown's deal is expected to be in excess of $8 million over at least five years, with a signing bonus of more than $4 million. Picks 4 through 9 last year were offered six-year deals and all but the Bears' Curtis Enis (the fifth pick) accepted. (6/11/99) Book 'Em - Cade McNown didn't leave Halas Hall empty-handed Sunday. ``I have plenty of film to look at and see some of the mistakes I made, some of the positive things I did and try and get better,'' the rookie quarterback said as the Bears completed the second of three minicamps in Lake Forest. McNown is eager to learn the Bears' new offensive system. He worked with Curtis Conway and Bobby Engram on pass-pattern options and routes. The playbook will be daily reading for him until he returns to Halas Hall in June. ``I want to have a real good understanding of this so I can come in here and it's just about the timing,'' McNown said. ``It's not wondering where I have to look next, but understand the audibles, understand the run game.'' (4/29/99) Won't Hold Out - McNown has promised the Bears that he will be present at the first day of training camp and will not hold out during negotiations on his contract. Chicago fans are all too familiar with last year's hold out by Curtis Enis, who missed almost all of training camp. "Every hour you miss with your teammates is an hour you can't get back," McNown said. (4/21/99) #12!! - Cade McNown was drafted by the Chicago Bears today in the NFL Draft. The Bears had the 7th pick but made a trade with the Washington Redskins who had earlier made a trade with the New Orleans Saints, getting their #12 pick. Seattle, San Francisco, and Tampa Bay were said to be dissappointed that Cade was taken so quickly in the draft today. Several months ago, "critics" were saying that McNown would be taken in the second round. After Cade's great outing in the post-season Senior Bowl, his stock continued to rise and he was able to get drafted not only in the first round, but in the first half of the round. We welcome all Chicago Bears fans to the "McNown family" and wish Cade the best of luck in Chicago. Chicago, if you were looking for a winner, boy did you get one. Visit the NFL page for more updates. (4/17/99)
Staying Away - McNown had a 30-minute workout viewed by NFL executives and scouts at UCLA's practice field yesterday. After the workout he was asked about the FBI investigation by members of the media. (3/23/99) The Draft - Updates on Cade's draft status are pouring in each day. Stay tuned to the NFL page for breaking news. (3/21/99) Making a Statement - More news from the NFL combine...Cade ran the 40 in 4.74 at the Indianapolis combine last month, faster than two thirds of the quarterbacks now starting in the NFL. When you take into account his ability to break through tackle after tackle while running, you realize what a threat he can be on the ground as well. (3/11/99) Exonerated - Today the Los Angeles Times reported that the FBI has been conducting an investigation into allegations of "point shaving" by members of the UCLA football team. The FBI found NOTHING in their investigation and has exonerated the football program. The media unfortunately decided to take this "story" and run with it, plastering Cade McNown's picture on the front page of every major internet sports site in the process. McNown said in a statement that he VOLUNTARILY underwent a polygraph test, passed it and was told "there would be no further inquiry necessary." Anyone who has followed McNown even briefly over the past few years knows what a waste of polygraph paper that was. Story over. (3/11/99) Work It - McNown's workout is scheduled for March 22nd. Representatives from several NFL teams will be present. Check out the NFL page for more details. (3/10/99) Combine It - Frank Coyle of CBS Sportsline reports from the NFL combine saying that Cade "had a good workout, displaying mobility, accuracy and adequate arm strength." (3/3/99) Turning Heads - Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy said Sunday at the NFL scouting combine that he's sold on McNown, considered by some (?) to lack a big-league throwing arm. When asked if McNown would still be on the board when Tampa Bay picked 15th overall, Dungy said: "I hope so. But I wouldn't be surprised if he is not. ... I'd like to have a chance at him." Dungy coached McNown at the Senior Bowl in January. In that game, McNown led his team to three scoring drives and was named the game's MVP. "To me, I'm big on production," Dungy said. "Cade is a guy who has produced. His arm was better than I heard it was going to be." McNown would welcome the opportunity to play for Tampa Bay, but he said the draft remains wide open. "It would be a great situation," McNown said of possibly going to the Buccaneers. "I'd love being around Coach Dungy. That's nice of him to say." McNown's stock has been rising since the end of the season. Unlike some of the high profile quarterbacks -- like Kentucky's Tim Couch and Central Florida's Daunte Culpepper -- McNown participated in all the drills at the combine. He was measured at 6-foot-1, 213 pounds, which is slightly taller than NFL scouts were led to believe. Next, McNown must convince scouts that his left arm is up to par. "I'm not going to throw the ball as hard as Brett Favre," McNown said. "But I have got a strong enough arm to play. I will make any throw that is asked of me." "In everything I do, I want to win," he said. "It doesn't matter what it is. "Everybody right now is trying to get into position to get what they want. Right now, I'd say 100 percent of these teams don't know exactly what they want." (2/21/99) It's Getting Drafty - With the NFL draft less than two months away, the speculation, predictions, and rumors have started. Draft selection predictions place McNown anyone from the first round to the second round. The specific numbers I have heard are #19, #41, #43, #46. In the rumor department, I have heard the Giants and 49ers are showing some serious interest in McNown. See NFL page for more details. (1/19/99) Fly Back Home...Please - Nick Alliotti, UCLA's one year defensive coordinator, announced that he will be returning to Oregon to coach their defensive squad. It finally seems that Alliotti has realized he doesn't have what it takes to coach a team of championship caliber and is better suited coaching ducks. Alliotti faced much criticism during the season because of his squad's questionable performance in a number of games. (1/19/99) MVP - Cade was named the Most Valuable Player in the 50th annual Senior Bowl. He was 10-of-12 for 114 yards and two touchdowns as he led the South to a 31-21 victory over the North and quarterbacks Donovan McNabb (Syracuse) and Joe Germaine (Ohio St.). McNown was 6-for-6 for 69 yards on the South's second-quarter scoring drive that ended with a 4-yard TD pass to Florida's Terry Jackson. Click here for more on the game. (1/23/99) NFL Bound - Cade McNown has left UCLA to focus on selling himself to NFL scouts. Since Jan. 4, McNown has been based in Bradenton, Fla., and engaged in full-time training sessions at the International Performance Institute on the grounds of the Bollettieri Sports Academy. McNown's agent, Tom Condon of International Management Group, hired veteran NFL assistant Larry Kennan to serve as McNown's private quarterback coach in Florida. McNown was scheduled to graduate a quarter early and may return in the Spring to complete his degree. Click here for more on this story. (1/20/99) Bowling Elsewhere - Cade will no longer be playing in the 1999 East/West Shrine Bowl on January 16. According to reports, he withdrew from the game after signing with an agent who advised him not to play. Instead, Cade will be playing in the 1999 Senior Bowl on January 23 at 1:30 p.m. (CST) in Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama(1/15/99) Another Award - Cade has been selected as the 1998 winner of the Pop Warner Award. The award is presented annually by the Palo Club to the most outstanding senior player on the West Coast. The Palo Club's Million Dollar Banquet is scheduled for Feb. 9 at the Santa Clara Marriott. (1/11/99) McLegacy - Cade McNown's UCLA career came to an end today with a loss to the Wisconsin Badgers at the Rose Bowl. Despite the loss, McNown will be remembered as a winner. His record in his last two years at UCLA is 20-4. He is also the only UCLA quarterback to beat U$C four times. Cade has also managed to break almost every UCLA quarterback record. His outstanding career was capped off this year by being named to both the AP and Coaches' All-America Teams, finishing 3rd in the Heisman Trophy balloting, and taking home the 1998 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Thank you for the memories Cade!! Check out the Stats page and Honors page for more on his amazing UCLA career. (1/3/99)
|
