Carter set to be introduced as newest Dorados player

HIDALGO - Barring an objection from arenafootball2, Quincy Carter is a member of the Rio Grande Valley Dorados.

Carter, a former starting quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys, is expected to be introduced to the Dorados' fan base during a news conference Wednesday, team general manager Grant Buckborough said Thursday. Along with Carter, the team also plans to announce the signing of former McAllen High standout Garrett Mason, who played for the Dorados last season.

Dorados coach Marty Hammond would not comment on the signing when reached Thursday.

Hammond did say all signings had to be approved by the af2 before being announced, which Buckborough confirmed.

"If it goes through, it will be the biggest thing in the history of the franchise," Buckborough 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.

"But this is absolutely the biggest thing to happen to the franchise."

Carter, 31, now lives in the Rio Grande Valley, moving here during the middle of 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 reached Wednesday, Carter said there was an "80 percent chance" he would be playing for the Dorados in 2009. When reached again Thursday, Carter denied his signing with the Dorados. Buckborough, however, didn't make any doubts that Wednesday's news conference was to announce Carter's signing, along with the new quarterback's center, Mason.

When the league office was contacted Thursday, af2 Manager of Football Operations Scott Wentzel said Carter's or Mason's contracts have not been sent to him. Wentzel approves af2 contracts before they are announced.

Wentzel approves the contracts as they come into his office and he said "it could be done in a day."

Buckborough also said that's one of the reasons for waiting until Wednesday for the signing.

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

Carter, who played in the AFL last season with the Kansas City Brigade, was in training camp with the Miami Dolphins this past summer before being cut. Carter 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. He "came close" to signing with the Dorados before last season, Buckborough said, but those talks broke down, with Carter eventually bouncing back with the Brigade.

Carter was drafted in the second round by the Cowboys in 2001, and started for Dallas 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.

Wade Baker is the Executive Sports Editor for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4450 or via e-mail at wbaker@themonitor.com.