John Skelton, the former Fordham quarterback who started 17 games for the Cardinals over the past three seasons, was released yesterday as Arizona continues to work on a deal to acquire quarterback Carson Palmer from the Raiders.
In anticipation of the Palmer deal, the Raiders acquired quarterback Matt Flynn from the Seahawks.
Oakland will send a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a conditional pick in 2015 to Seattle for Flynn, who left Green Bay and signed a lucrative free agent deal with Seattle last year. But he couldn’t beat out rookie Russell Wilson for the starting job.
The Raiders also will receive a late-round pick from Arizona if the deal for Palmer is completed.
Skelton beat out Kevin Kolb for the starting job under then-coach Ken Whisenhunt in training camp last season. He was hurt in the opener and Kolb took over. Skelton returned as starter when Kolb was injured, but lost the job due to poor performance.
BROWNS: The 49ers acquired quarterback Colt McCoy from Cleveland to replace Alex Smith as a backup to starter Colin Kaepernick.
The 49ers sent fifth- and seventh-round picks in this year’s draft to the Browns for McCoy and a sixth-round selection.
REDSKINS: QB Robert Griffin III is expected to receive clearance to resume running on the field within the next week, his father said yesterday. Also, cornerback DeAngelo Hall agreed to a more affordable one-year contract after being cut for salary-cap reasons three weeks ago.
COLTS: Free-agent wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey agreed to terms after spending four seasons with the Raiders.
JAGUARS: Veteran defensive tackle C.J. Mosley was released.