Authorities Catch Shoplifting Suspect

TYLER — Investigators with the Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force located shoplifting suspect Bobby Choice at his residence at 17610 FM 2767 in Smith County around 11:00 a.m. Wednesday. Choice was taken into custody on a robbery warrant, and bond was set at $100,000. Choice, 44, allegedly stole items from JC Penney in Broadway Square Mall Saturday and reportedly injured a child in the process. Police said that during the crime, he hurt an 11-year-old boy when he ran from store security.

Self-Proclaimed Aryan Brotherhood Member Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting

NACOGDOCHES — An East Texas man who was an admitted Aryan Brotherhood member, and whose record stretched into Cherokee County, is dead after an officer-involved shooting with deputies from the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office. KETK reports deputies were involved in a shooting with Darrell Joseph Legnon, 25, during a traffic stop in Cushing Tuesday night. At around 11:00 p.m., a Cushing Independent School District resource officer conducted a traffic stop after seeing what was termed a suspicious car on the school campus. The motorist attempted to drive away from the officer, but he was able to catch up with the car and stop the it on Highway 204 at 6th Street. Two Nacogdoches County Deputies were in the area at the time and responded as a backup unit. Read more …

Deputy on Leave after Killing Homeowner’s Dog

EMORY — A deputy with the Rains County Sheriff’s Office has been placed on administrative leave after officials say he shot and killed a homeowner’s dog. According to KETK, officials say they received a 911 call on Friday, April 18, at approximately 12:46 p.m., in reference to a burglary that occurred at the Middleton residence on Farm to Market 514 in the Daughtery Community. Officials say Deputy Dooley responded to the call at 2:41 p.m., nearly two hours after the call came in. The two-hour delay was investigated and the cause was found and corrected with administrative actions, according to authorities. The responding deputy’s report stated Dooley felt in danger of being attacked by the family dog and reacted by shooting the dog to keep from being bitten. The Sheriff’s Office says it’s continuing to investigate the incident internally at this time while Deputy Dooley has been put on administrative leave.
Read more …

Man Gets 50 Years for Murder, Claims Victim Practiced Witchcraft on Him

RUSK — An East Texas man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the 2012 murder of his ex-girlfriend. According to the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office, Jose Diaz Perez, 51, was found guilty for murdering Caselin Ramirez on March 17, 2012. Officials tell KETK the couple had separated two weeks prior to the murder. Ramirez reportedly left Perez due to his excessive drinking and controlling behavior. Read more …

Authorities Checking on Cold Case Suspect’s Role in Mineola Death

MINEOLA (Staff/AP) – A man recently captured in Mineola for a 1981 Pennsylvania slaying is suspected in a Mineola death. According to KETK, many in the Mineola community were shocked when they found out Joseph Miller had been arrested on Monday. They knew him as a deacon by the name of Roy Eugene Eubanks. However, one local family says they knew him for who he really was, and they believe he also had a hand in murdering their daughter, Selina McDowell. On September 20th, 1991, Selina McDowell was found dead, with a gunshot wound to her chest. The conclusion was suicide. Family members believe Joseph Miller, whom they knew as Roy Eubanks, is responsible and was in a relationship with McDowell. Mineola Police Chief Chuck Bittner said they are looking back into the case, but said it will be a difficult process since it did occur back in 1991. Read more …

Car Crashes into Senior Center in Longview

LONGVIEW — Emergency crews responded to an accident in which a car crashed into a Longview senior center Wednesday morning. According to KETK, the Longview Police Department reports that around 11:45 a.m., a vehicle was reported as slamming into the Senior Circle on the 3000 block of North 4th Street. Police said an elderly driver mixed up the gas and brake, ramming the car straight into the center. People were inside taking line dance class at the time of the crash, but no one was injured. The driver, who was unharmed, was not hospitalized or arrested. The center is part of the Longview Regional Medical Center network and serves adults age 50 and older. Officials said the center will be closed for the rest of the week.

Longview Director of Development Services Resigns

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview’s Director of Development Services, Kevin Cummings, has resigned from his position effective June 27. The Director of Development Services provided oversight for Planning and Zoning, Building Inspection, Environmental Health, Engineering Services, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Longview Transit, according to a city news release. In his letter of resignation, Cummings stated that “I have enjoyed working for the City of Longview for the past 12 years, as well as the professional and personal development opportunities that were afforded me. More importantly, I appreciate the support and dedication of the highly capable staff members that I have been blessed to work with. I wish both them and the City of Longview the best in the future.” Read more …

Council Adopts Rose Garden Master Plan

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday adopted the Rose Garden Master Plan that was presented by MHS Planning and Design, LLC of Tyler. On February 13, 2013, Tyler City Council approved a proposal from MHS Planning and Design, LLC and Oliver Windham, Landscape Architect, to prepare a master plan for the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden. The project allowed for a master plan to be developed prior to Capital Improvement Funds being disbursed which were originally for a restroom and drainage work. According to a city news release, the Master Plan has been completed for the Garden after numerous opportunities for public input and recommendations on overall improvements to the facility. Read more …

Heines Receives Grassroots America Endorsement

TYLER – Grassroots America – We the People PAC, one of the largest constitutional conservative organizations in Texas, announced Wednesday its endorsement of Tyler businessman Martin Heines in the May 10th City of Tyler mayoral race. In a news release, Grassroots America Executive Director JoAnn Fleming said, “Martin is strongly capable of building on the City’s successful long-range business plan – The City of Tyler Blueprint.” Fleming added, “He makes it his business to know about the day-to-day operations in all areas of city government, and he’s detail oriented – a quality that makes him valuable to city staff and to taxpayers.” There’s been no word on any formal endorsements for Heines’s opponent, Joel Rando.

Powers Critics Donate to 2 Hall Committee Members

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) — Critics of University of Texas President Bill Powers (pictured) have made donations to the campaigns of two members of a legislative committee that’s investigating an anti-Powers UT System regent. One of those contributions went to an East Texan. The San Antonio Express-News reports campaign finance reports show campaign contributions from Powers critic Jeff Sandefer and Empower Texans PAC, a political action committee of Powers critic Michael Quinn Sullivan. The contributions went to state Reps. Charles Perry and Dan Flynn, two Republican members of the House Select Committee on Transparency in State Operations. Flynn, of Van, is co-chairman of the eight-member committee. The committee is scheduled to meet Thursday in Austin and is about to take up a report that accuses UT System regent Wallace Hall of possibly criminal misconduct in his campaign to depose Powers.

Longview Man Arrested on Drug Charges

LONGVIEW – A Longview man has been arrested on a variety of drug charges. A search warrant was issued Tuesday for the home of Juan Daniel Ingram, 37. County Drug Enforcement officers found four grams of PCP and several ounces of marijuana in the house in the 800 block of Clover Street. They also recovered a couple of firearms, a semi-automatic pistol and a short-barrel shotgun. Ingram has been charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of a firearm by a felon. Ingram is not a newcomer to the Gregg County Jail. County records show he has been booked into the jail nearly two dozen times since 1996.

Council Authorizes West Cumberland Extension Project

TYLER — As expected, the Tyler City Council Wednesday authorized a construction contract with Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd. to complete the Cumberland extension project and the Cherryhill Drive extension. On August 22, 2012, the City Council authorized the city manager to execute a contract with C. T. Brannon Corporation for design, plans, and specifications for construction of West Cumberland Road from South Broadway Avenue to Old Jacksonville Highway. The length of this project is approximately 2.4 miles. “This is a wonderful project to increase the east-west connection in southern Tyler,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. ““This will give citizens better access to schools, retail, parks and new development. It will also enhance emergency response times and help ease traffic congestion.” Read more …

Tyler Mayor Calls for a Day of Prayer and Fasting Thursday

TYLER — Mayor Barbara Bass invites local church pastors and their staffs, local ministry leaders, elected officials, first responders (police, fire and EMT), school board members, and other government agency leaders to a day of prayer and fasting for the Tyler community. During the noon hour Thursday at the Rose Garden Center, local pastors and prayer warriors will offer up specific prayers concerning the Tyler community and the nation, according to a news release. Bass says it’s in preparation for the National Day of Prayer on May 1.

Sheriff Smith to Hold Town Hall Meeting in Whitehouse

WHITEHOUSE – Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith will hold a town hall meeting Thursday from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the TASCA Activity Center in Whitehouse, located at 10495 County Road 2167. The town hall meeting is his first of 2014. During 2013, Sheriff Smith’s first year in office, he held town halls in Lindale, Starville, Tyler, and Whitehouse. Read more …

Public Water Forum Thursday in Tyler

AUSTIN — The Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) will conduct a forum Thursday at UT Tyler to discuss urban and rural perspectives on the water infrastructure needs of communities in Northeast Texas. According to a news release, “Speakers will discuss Texas’ future water needs and provide an opportunity for the public to obtain valuable information on this important issue.” Read more …

Mother Frances Announces First Use of Miniature Cardiac Monitor

TYLER — Tyler is home to one of the first facilities in East Texas to implant the Medtronic Reveal LINQ Insertable Cardiac Monitor (ICM) System in a patient. That announcement came Wednesday from Mother Frances Hospital and its onsite Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital. Officials say the device is the smallest implantable cardiac monitoring device available. Trinity Clinic Electrophysiologists Dr. John Sims and Dr. Stan Weiner performed the procedures. Read more …

Tyler ISD High Schools Take Top Honors at UIL Competition

TYLER — John Tyler and Robert E. Lee High School orchestras recently earned top honors in University Interscholastic League (UIL) competition. The schools received superior marks in concert and sight reading events leading to overall Sweepstakes honors, the highest honor UIL awards in music competition. This is the first Sweepstakes award for the John Tyler Orchestra. For Robert E Lee, it marks the fifteenth consecutive year the orchestra has earned Sweepstakes status. Read more …

Governor Perry Appoints Student Regents

AUSTIN — Governor Rick Perry has appointed 10 student regents to their respective university systems, and one student representative to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for terms effective June 1, 2014, and expiring May 31, 2015. Kelsey Brown was appointed a student regent at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. Brown is pursuing a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in history.

Perry Challenges Cuomo on Business

NEW YORK (AP) – Texas Governor Rick Perry says it’s good for states to compete against each other for jobs because it pushes them to improve their business environments. Perry is on a trip to meet business owners in New York. That state has been playing commercials in Texas touting a program of tax breaks for businesses that locate near college campuses.

Police: Two Beaten to Death in Houston Nursing Home

HOUSTON (AP) – Police say a Houston nursing home resident has been accused of killing two of his roommates. Investigators say the 56-year-old man beat the other men to death Tuesday night using the armrest of his wheelchair. The daughter of one of the dead men says her father had repeatedly complained about the accused attacker.

Former Houston Police Officer Charged in Drug Case

HOUSTON (AP) – Federal authorities have arrested a former Houston police officer accused of dealing drugs on the job. 36-year-old Marcos Carrion resigned recently after five years on the force. Investigators say the case involves cocaine.

South Texas Architect Pleads Guilty in Bribery Scheme

HOUSTON (AP/Staff) – A South Texas architect has pleaded guilty in Houston to a federal conspiracy charge for paying bribes to elected officials in order to win contracts with school districts. Sentencing is July 25 for 58-year-old Jesus Bustos. Earlier this month Progreso’s mayor, former school board president, and former school district maintenance and transportation supervisor – two brothers and their father – pleaded guilty to related charges.

Couple Wins $3 Million in Drilling Lawsuit

DALLAS (AP) – A Dallas jury has awarded $3 million to a North Texas couple who sued a drilling company over alleged contamination. The Dallas Morning News reports that the jury returned its verdict Tuesday in favor of Bob and Lisa Parr of Wise County. The Parrs argued that Aruba Petroleum’s wells caused spills and emissions on their ranch, forcing them to evacuate and making them sick. The company argued in court – and reiterated in a statement – that it complied with state regulations and that there were too many wells near the ranch to pinpoint theirs as the ones that caused the emissions.

Some Harris County Feral Hogs Head to Food Banks

HOUSTON (AP) – Wild hogs being trapped in the Houston area will be turned into food for the hungry. Harris County commissioners have approved a one-year contract with a packing company that will butcher the hogs and donate the meat to local food banks.

Seager’s 2 HRs give Seattle 5-3 win over Houston

With one swing, Kyle Seager hopes he ended his personal skid at the plate and the Seattle Mariners’ slide.

“Any time you see the ball hit the ground, it’s obviously a big confidence booster,” Seager said. “It has felt better the last couple of days and today it showed up. Thankfully.”

Seager hit a three-run homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth, his second of the game, and the Mariners rallied for a 5-3 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday to stop an eight-game losing streak.

With Seattle on the verge of getting swept for the second straight series, Seager hit a two-run homer in the seventh off starter Jarred Cosart. Then he capped the biggest hitting day of his big league career with his drive on the first pitch from closer Josh Fields (0-1) in the ninth.

It was the third multihomer game of Seager’s career, and the five RBIs were a career high. Seager had not homered since Sept. 3 of last season at Kansas City.

“He has a track record and I’ve said all along that he is going to hit,” Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. “Obviously, when you’re in a losing streak and the guys you expect to hit don’t hit, it’s a little frustrating but in that case you have one of two options: you can sit him or you can play him. I chose to play him and he didn’t disappoint.”

Seager had been one of Seattle’s few consistent hitters the past two seasons, establishing himself as a lock in the Mariners lineup. That made his struggles to start this season so surprising. Seager entered Wednesday hitting just .156 with two RBIs. He had more strikeouts (17) than hits (10) at the start of the day. Read more …

Stars roar back, tie series with Ducks

Dallas Stars center Cody Eakin skated the length of the ice, got around a sliding defender, closed his eyes and shot just before his stick got ripped out of his hands.

The top-seeded Anaheim Ducks can clearly see they are in quite a fight now.

Eakin scored on Dallas’ first shot of the third period, Alex Goligoski scored on the next one 1:22 later and the Stars beat the Ducks 4-2 in Game 4 on Wednesday night to even the best-of-seven series.

“Once I came around that D-man … I saw a guy and there was a lane,” Eakin said. “So, I just closed my eyes and shot.”

Even without captain Ryan Getzlaf, a surprise late scratch with an upper-body injury, and healthy scratch Teemu Selanne, the Ducks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead.

“It’s not often we get outworked,” Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. “But I thought after that, the last 40 was as hard as the boys could go. They emptied the tank.”

The Stars, who got physical at home after a pair of one-goal losses in Anaheim to start the series, are assured of playing another home game in their first playoff appearance since 2008.

“All year we’ve been good at putting stuff behind us. Things haven’t been going well, we’ve been able to put periods behind us,” Goligoski said. “We just stuck with the plan, kept going, kept getting in their zone and it paid off.”

Game 5 is Friday night in Anaheim, and the series returns Sunday to the American Airlines Center for Game 6.

Stars captain Jaime Benn scored unassisted, his third goal of the series, off a faceoff 27 seconds into the second period. About 6 minutes later, Vernon Fiddler managed to get the puck in a small gap between the post and rookie goalie Frederick Andersen to tie it at 2. Read more …

Cowboys to open season vs. 49ers

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com

The NFL released the 2014 schedule on Wednesday night.

Here is the Cowboys schedule with notes on every opponent (times CT).

Sept. 7 vs. San Francisco, 3:25 p.m. (FOX)
Sept. 14 at Tennessee, Noon (FOX)
Sept. 21 at St. Louis, Noon (FOX)
Sept. 28 vs. New Orleans, 7:30 p.m. (NBC)
Oct. 5 vs. Houston, Noon (CBS)
Oct. 12 at Seattle, 3:25 p.m. (FOX)
Oct. 19 vs. New York Giants, 3:25 p.m. (FOX)
Oct. 27 vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Nov. 2 vs. Arizona, Noon, (FOX)
*Nov. 9 at Jacksonville, Noon, (FOX)
Nov. 23 at New York Giants, 7:30 p.m. (NBC)
Nov. 27 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m. (FOX)
Dec. 4 at Chicago, 7:25 p.m. (NFLN)
Dec. 14 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. (NBC)
Dec. 21 vs. Indianapolis, 3:25 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 28 at Washington, Noon (FOX)
*Game played in London Read more …

Rangers Complete Sweep Of A’s

With the Texas rotation ravaged by injuries early in the season, Martin Perez has more than filled the void.

Perez pitched his second consecutive shutout to extend his scoreless innings streak to 26 and the Texas Rangers wrapped up a three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics with a 3-0 victory Wednesday.

“He’s been the glue,” manager Ron Washington said. “He’s held it together. He’s the one guy in that rotation who’s been in it from last year who hasn’t had a blip yet.”

The Rangers have been without Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison and Colby Lewis already at times this season but still find themselves in first place thanks to some strong play from fill-ins and major improvement from Perez.

Perez (4-0) outpitched Sonny Gray (3-1) in a heralded matchup of emerging stars, allowing just three hits and two walks in his first start since throwing a three-hitter against the White Sox for his first career shutout.

“I don’t want to think too much about my ERA and the games that I’ve thrown before,” Perez said. “I’m going to focus on my game today. We had a great game.”

Perez, who also threw eight scoreless innings against Houston on April 13, is the first Rangers pitcher to have three straight scoreless starts since Kenny Rogers had four straight over 30 innings in 2005. Perez also joined Charlie Hough in 1983 as the only Texas pitchers to have three straight starts of at least eight scoreless innings. Read more …

Mavs respond, rout Spurs in Game 2

Blowing their playoff opener turned out to be great therapy for the Dallas Mavericks.

Eighth-seeded Dallas rolled to a 113-92 victory over San Antonio on Wednesday night, snapping a 10-game skid against the Spurs and evening their first-round series at a game apiece.

Dallas didn’t relent in Game 2 after watching a 10-point lead evaporate in the final eight minutes of the series opener Sunday.

“Game 1 actually helped a lot more than today,” Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki said. “We were down after Game 1, but in this building to be up 10 with six or seven minutes left, I think that gave us a lot of confidence coming into this one. Just keep executing the game plan.”

It was Dallas’ first playoff victory since June 12, 2011, when it rebounded from an 0-2 deficit to defeat the Miami Heat for the NBA title.

If not for the final eight minutes of the series opener, the Mavericks would have a 2-0 lead entering Game 3 on Saturday.

“It feels great, but it’s nothing to celebrate,” Dallas point guard Jose Calderon said. “I think we have to keep doing what we’re doing. I think we played two really good games.”

In Game 2, the Mavericks used an aggressive offense and a brutal defensive effort that discombobulated the normally even-keeled Spurs, who finished the regular season with the league’s best record. Read more …

TCU’s Brandon Carter arrested

By Jake Trotter | ESPN.com

TCU wide receiver Brandon Carter was arrested Tuesday night by Fort Worth, Texas, police on suspicion of possession of marijuana.

According to the police report, Carter was detained after police ran the license plate on a 2010 Lexus and found the car had a “warrant hit.” After conducting a traffic stop, police arrested Carter and Alexis Harris, 22, for allegedly possessing less than two ounces of marijuana. The report stated that Carter had been driving, but that Harris is the car’s owner.

Carter was released from Mansfield jail Wednesday morning on a pre-trial release, according to the jail’s records.

After a breakout sophomore season in 2012, Carter was expected to be the Horned Frogs’ top receiver last year.

Instead, he spent most of the season in the doghouse and finished without a touchdown catch after reeling in nine his first two years. Carter was also granted a temporary leave of absence from the team in November.

Carter was not with the team during spring practice, either, so that he could focus on his academics.

Carter’s incident is the latest in a series of arrests of TCU football players on drug-related charges.

In February, wide receiver LaDarius Brown, who tied for the team-lead in receptions last season, was kicked off the team after being arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession.

In February 2012, four TCU football players were arrested in a drug sting and dismissed from the team. TCU has not yet commented on Carter’s arrest.

Mara: Expanded playoffs will wait

ESPN.com news services

Although NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hasn’t shut the door on the possibility of expanding the playoff field from 12 to 14 teams for the 2014 season, New York Giants president John Mara believes the league has all but tabled the idea for this season.

“I don’t think it’s going to happen this year,” Mara told Newsday on Tuesday. “I think it’s kind of late. We have a May [20 owners] meeting [in Atlanta], but I sense that we’ll wait a year before we do that. It hasn’t been voted on yet.”

Mara, who is part of the NFL’s competition committee, told Newsday that while he’s optimistic that the proposal will “pass at some point,” he just can’t see it happening for the upcoming season.

“[The league] would notify us in advance, but I’m thinking it’s probably not going to happen for another year or so,” Mara said.

At the NFL owners meetings in March, Goodell said that expanding the playoff field for the upcoming season was not the goal, as there was still more work to do, but he added that “it’s not out of the question” and that he “wouldn’t rule it out.”

The competition committee has supported the idea of expanding the postseason field from 12 to 14 teams — seven in each conference — for the past two years.

“I think there’s a tremendous amount of interest in this, possibly even to the point of support, but we want to make sure we do it right,” Goodell said in March. “We’ve been very incremental when trying to do this. But we believed it could make our races toward the end of the season even more exciting, [with] more teams vying for playoff positions, which is great for our fans.”

Matt Harrison to start Sunday

By Eric Gilmore | Special to ESPNDallas.com

OAKLAND, Calif. — Texas Rangers left-hander Matt Harrison’s long wait will finally end Sunday at Seattle.

Harrison will come off the disabled list and make his first start in over a year in the finale of the Rangers’ three-game series against the Seattle Mariners, manager Ron Washington said Wednesday.

“I’m excited to finally get back here,” Harrison said. “The way it went last year, I didn’t think I’d ever pitch again.”

Harrison hasn’t made a big-league start appearance since April 6, 2013. He underwent surgery to repair a herniated disk in his lower back on April 23 and, eight days later, had surgery on a different part of the disk.

He made three rehab starts in July and August, but was shut down for the 2013 season after experiencing numbness in his left hand during the third rehab start. He had surgery yet again on Sept. 9, this time on his right shoulder because of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

“It means a lot,” Harrison said of his return. “A lot of hard work. A lot of people along the way helped me to get where I am.”

Washington said he initially planned to have Harrison start Friday at Seattle, but he juggled his rotation to make sure that neither Harrison nor right-hander Colby Lewis would have to pitch when the Rangers play two interleague games at Colorado on May 5 and 6.

Lewis, who had season-ending hip surgery last year on Aug. 22, made his first start of the 2014 season on April 14.

“Don’t want them hitting, so we had to adjust,” Washington said.

Left-hander Robbie Ross Jr. will start Friday night against Seattle, and Lewis will start Saturday’s game against the Mariners. When the Mariners return home for a three-game series against Oakland, Yu Darvish will start on Monday, Martin Perez on Tuesday and Ross on Wednesday.

Harrison threw bullpen sessions Monday and Tuesday and plans to throw again on Friday.

“Everything is good,” Washington said. “Mind is in the right place. Ready to compete.”

Harrison went 18-11 with a 3.29 ERA in 2012. He was the Rangers’ Opening Day starter in 2013 but made only two starts that season.

Bucs considering Johnny Manziel

ESPN.com news services

Johnny Manziel is on the short list of players the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are considering with their first-round pick in next month’s NFL draft, a league source told ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure.

Manziel is one of at least four quarterbacks the Bucs have hosted for pre-draft visits. The source did not disclose how short the team’s list is for its first pick.

The Bucs hold the seventh overall selection and might have to trade up to land Manziel, the former Texas A&M star. Manziel recently was tabbed as the No. 4 overall pick to the Cleveland Browns in ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper’s latest mock.

Manziel is viewed as a likely first-round pick by many draft experts, and the Bucs aren’t loaded at quarterback.

Tampa Bay signed veteran Josh McCown in the offseason and has Mike Glennon, who started 13 games last season. The Bucs have opened minicamp with McCown taking the first-team repetitions at quarterback, while Glennon has been working with the second team.

McCown played for new Bucs coach Lovie Smith in Chicago. Upon signing McCown, Smith said it still was possible the Bucs could use their first pick on a quarterback.

ESPN.com Buccaneers reporter Pat Yasinskas contributed to this report.