Quincy Carter set to be introduced as newest Dorados player

HIDALGO — Quincy Carter is joining the Rio Grande Valley Dorados - barring any objection from arenafootball2.

Carter, a former starting quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys, is expected to be introduced to the Dorados' fan base during a news conference Wednesday, said Grant Buckborough, the Dorados' general manager.

"This is absolutely the biggest thing to happen to the franchise," he said.

The Dorados also plan to announce the signing of former McAllen High School standout Garrett Mason, who played for the team last season.

Dorados coach Marty Hammond would not comment on the signings when reached Thursday but did say the af2 had to approve all signings before they could be announced.

Buckborough confirmed that.

"If it goes through, it will be the biggest thing in the history of the franchise," he said. "I don't know why it possibly wouldn't be approved. I have no idea why it wouldn't be, but everything has to go through the league office."

Carter, 31, now lives in the Rio Grande Valley, having moved here in mid-October to be with his girlfriend. Along with meeting with the Dorados' front office on several occasions, Carter has started the Quincy Carter Quarterback Academy in Alamo.

When contacted Wednesday, he said there was an "80 percent chance" he would be playing for the Dorados in 2009. But when reached again Thursday, Carter denied his signing with the Dorados.

Buckborough, however, left no question that next week's planned news conference is to announce Carter's signing, along with announcing Mason as the new quarterback's center.

Scott Wentzel, af2's manager of football operations and the person who approves all af2 contracts before they are officially announced, said he has not seen contracts for either of them.

That's one of the reasons for waiting to make an announcement, Buckborough said.

"That's why it's being announced Wednesday, in case there are any problems," he explained.

Carter, who played in the Arena Football League last season with the Kansas City Brigade, was in training camp with the Miami Dolphins this past summer before being cut.

He competed in af2 with the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings in 2007, playing a pair of games at Dodge Arena, where he met his current girlfriend.

Carter "came close" to signing with the Dorados before last season, Buckborough said, but those talks broke down, with Carter eventually bouncing back to the Brigade.

The Cowboys drafted Carter in the second round in 2001, and he started for the NFL team during his rookie season. He was released by the Cowboys in 2004, then played one season with the Jets - starting three games in New York.

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Wade Baker is the Executive Sports Editor for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4450.