Ex-Patriot Colvin released by Texans

Veteran struggled with new team

The Houston Texans released veteran linebacker Rosevelt Colvin and 20 other players yesterday, the day before NFL teams must set their 53-man rosters.

The Texans signed Colvin in June after he was released by the Patriots. They had hoped he could be a situational pass rusher, but decided he wasn't valuable enough to take up a roster spot.

"The bottom line was to have a player on your team to just play nickel, he would have to be special," coach Gary Kubiak said. "We had to sit there and weigh him against players who could play special teams and do some other things for our team."

Colvin had recovered from a foot injury that kept him out of the last five games and the playoffs last season. However, he struggled since arriving in Houston and wasn't anywhere close to becoming the pass-rushing threat opposite Mario Williams the Texans were looking for.

Colvin had 52 1/2 sacks in nine seasons in Chicago and New England.

Houston has one more cut to make and is evaluating running back Chris Brown to see if he is healthy enough to contribute this season.

Brown, who was signed this offseason, has been struggling with back problems since the start of training camp.

McKinnie suspended
The NFL suspended Minnesota left tackle Bryant McKinnie for four games without pay for violating the league's personal conduct policy, a blow to the protection of Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson's blind side.

McKinnie has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a street brawl outside a Miami nightclub in February. He will be eligible to return to the Vikings' active roster following the team's Sept. 28 game against Tennessee.

McKinnie also will miss games against Green Bay, Indianapolis, and Carolina.

Panthers get McCown
The Panthers got an experienced backup for starting quarterback Jake Delhomme when they acquired veteran Josh McCown from Miami for a 2009 late-round draft pick. Delhomme, who is returning from ligament-replacement surgery in his right elbow, has recovered well and is scheduled to start the season opener at San Diego Sept. 7. But behind him in the preseason were Matt Moore, who started the final three games last year as an undrafted rookie, and Brett Basanez, who has played in one NFL game. The trade came one day after Moore injured his left leg in the final exhibition game at Pittsburgh. Tests showed he did not break bones or suffer ligament damage . . . With 29 Denver players sitting out, Matt Leinart relieved starter Kurt Warner and directed host Arizona to two touchdowns in the Cardinals' 28-14 loss to the Broncos' reserves . . . T.J. Duckett ran for 71 yards and two touchdowns in Seattle's 23-16 victory over visiting Oakland . . . Alex Smith passed for 146 yards but also threw two terrible interceptions, and San Diego's Eldra Buckley made a one-armed diving catch on a 2-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds left in the Chargers' 20-17 win in San Francisco.

Manning plans to start
Peyton Manning expects to be in the starting lineup when the Indianapolis Colts open the season against the Chicago Bears.

The Colts quarterback, who underwent knee surgery in July, was activated Tuesday and went through a pregame workout with the team before the final exhibition game Thursday night.

"I don't really want to get into daily progress reports of how it went. But it was something that we decided to do last week," Manning said of his increased workload.

By any other name
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson has legally changed his name to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco in Broward County, Fla., a switch that became official this week, according to several media reports. "It's something I don't think anyone has ever done before," he told the team's website. "Have I ever had a reason for why I do what I do? I'm having fun." Two years ago, Johnson gave himself the moniker - a reference in Spanish to his No. 85 - and put it on the back of his uniform before a game. After the season, coach Marvin Lewis - who dislikes the attention-getting stunts - referred to the receiver as "Ocho Psycho." . . . Vince Young had his right hand taped as he left the Titans' offices in Nashville, but coach Jeff Fisher was mum on the injury. Young bruised his throwing hand in the exhibition finale against Green Bay, a 23-21 Titans win.