Cowboys suddenly release starting QB Carter

Two NFL sources close to the Dallas Cowboys confirmed Wednesday that Quincy Carter was released after failing a drug test.

It is unclear when the test was administered, but it seems certain it was not administered by the Dallas Cowboys; a league source said NFL policy forbids clubs from administering drug tests and forbids clubs from cutting players because they failed tests.

The Cowboys never said why they released Carter, with coach Bill Parcells expressing sadness Wednesday that the club had to take action. Carter's agent, Eugene Parker, was unavailable for comment.

Carter, who started all 16 games last year in leading Dallas to the playoffs, had expected to be the club's starting quarterback despite the offseason addition of veteran Vinny Testaverde. But he failed to appear at Wednesday morning's practice, with teammates later saying he stopped by before the workout to tell them goodbye.

"Figure it out," said the source close to the club. "The Cowboys wanted Carter to be their starter, and this creates a problem for the short-term. Put two and two together."

A second-round draft pick out of Georgia in 2001, Carter never made an impression until Parcells arrived last season. But even then, he threw more interceptions (21) than touchdown passes (17) -- with at least two pickoffs in six games.

That irked Parcells, who never was comfortable with Carter because of the mistakes. So the club spent the offseason attacking the quarterback position, first acquiring Drew Henson from Houston; then signing Testaverde, 40, after he was released by the New York Jets.

"We made a decision to move in a different direction," owner Jerry Jones said. "This on my part was not a difficult decision at all, though it is very disappointing, very disappointing."

The backup quarterback now will be Henson, who played at Michigan and was out of football for three years while in minor-league baseball. He is considered a top prospect, but his long absence from the football field and total lack of NFL experience make him a huge risk as a starter.

The third quarterback in camp is unproven second-year player Tony Romo.

Testaverde started for the New York Jets last season after Chad Pennington was hurt.

"He knows why he is here and what his job is, but right now that's the most experienced player (here) and I'm confident in that player," Parcells said. "I've got a good veteran quarterback here who's going to lead this team. And I've got two young guys I'm going to develop."