The NFL Players Association has gotten involved in Quincy Carter’s release by the Dallas Cowboys.

The union filed a grievance over the release Aug. 4 of the quarterback who started all 16 games and one playoff contest for the Cowboys last season, claiming the team had violated the collective bargaining agreement in releasing him.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, however, said he was willing to answer any questions from the union or the NFL’s management council about the decision to cut Carter.

“Basically the decisions were made because of what we wanted to do at that position this year and in the future,” Jones said Monday. “They were well, in my view, within the area that I’m comfortable with regarding being able to defend it.”

Jones didn’t elaborate.

The case would be heard by professor Stephen Burbank of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. The union said the first step would probably be taking depositions from Jones and coach Bill Parcells.

The team has not given a reason for Carter’s release, although there were widespread reports that he had failed a drug test.

“You don’t go from being a starting, playoff quarterback in this league to someone not good enough to make the 80-man roster the next summer,” Richard Berthelsen, the union’s general counsel, said in a statement.

Dolphins

Injury-plagued Miami signed 32-year-old wide receiver Antonio Freeman on Monday.

Freeman had 14 catches last season for Green Bay.

The Dolphins lost offseason acquisition David Boston on Aug. 6 with a torn tendon in his knee. Kendall Newson, who had moved up to third receiver, tore his left Achilles’ tendon Saturday night. He had successful surgery Monday and was waived/injured.

Bears

Offensive tackle John Tait, who signed a six-year, $33.6 million deal to leave Kansas City and come to Chicago, returned to drills after sitting out a week with a strained right groin.

Defensive end Alex Brown (calf) and Bryan Robinson (knee) missed practice.

Giants

After a relatively placid camp that belied his reputation as a taskmaster, new coach Tom Coughlin berated his team Monday for a lack of intensity and attention to detail.

Coughlin reminded the Giants they are playing a nationally televised game Thursday night at Carolina, and the way they were practicing and playing, they couldn’t beat a high school team.

On the first play after the talk, Coughlin seemed to get in the face of rookie guard Chris Snee, his son-in-law, for a missed assignment.

“It’s embarrassing. We shouldn’t need it at all,” Snee said. “We’re in the NFL. We should motivate ourselves, but we definitely responded.”

Offensive line coach Pat Flaherty underwent successful colorectal surgery on Monday to remove a cancerous tumor.

Cardinals

NFL rushing leader Emmitt Smith was able to practice two days after bruising his thigh in Saturday’s 23-6 exhibition loss at Minnesota – an injury originally expected to keep him out for five to seven days.

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is sidelined for at least a week with a sprained left ankle. Safety Dexter Jackson (lower back), defensive end Fred Wakefield (concussion) and fullback James Hodgins (shoulder) sat out practice.

Texans

Reserve quarterback Tony Banks said he’s content to play back-up for a third straight year to David Carr. But after the season, the 31-year-old Banks will be a free agent and said he’ll market his services as a starting quarterback.

“That’s the plan,” Banks said Monday. “That’s always the plan.”

Rookie free agent running back Jason Anderson was placed on injured reserve after breaking his right leg in Saturday’s preseason victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The Texans signed tailbacks Adam Matthews and KaRon Coleman for more backfield depth and waived two tight ends, Kevin Zureki and Deitan Dubuc.

Colts

Wide receiver Aaron Moorehead, who turned a spectacular catch into an 80-yard touchdown against San Diego on Saturday, sat out of Monday’s workouts with a shoulder injury.

Falcons

Will Overstreet was placed on injured reserve Monday, the third straight year the defensive end’s season has ended early due to a shoulder injury.

Overstreet, a third-round pick from Tennessee in 2002, had season-ending operations on his left shoulder each of the last two years and then injured the shoulder again July 31.

Vikings

Starting cornerback Brian Williams is expected to miss at least two weeks with a sprained left knee and may not be available for the Vikings’ season opener Sept. 12 against Dallas. Williams was injured in the first quarter of Saturday’s exhibition game against Arizona.

Titans

Linebacker Brad Kassell was activated off the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from a deep gash on his left leg suffered in a home accident. Kassell needed stitches last month when a picnic bench shattered beneath him while he was eating with his family in Texas.

Raiders

Defensive linemen Sam Williams (shoulder) and Shawn Johnson (strained knee), linebacker Donny Green (sore calf) and running back Amos Zereoue (bruised leg) all sat out practice Monday. Offensive lineman Robert Gallery injured his right elbow in practice.