PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Buccaneers Waive DeBerg

Steve DeBerg, the NFL’s oldest player and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ starting quarterback when the season began, was waived after appearing in only three games.

DeBerg, 39, lost the No. 1 job to Craig Erickson after the Buccaneers’ season-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He played briefly in two other games and had completed 23 of 39 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, with three interceptions.

In 17 seasons, he has passed for 32,351 yards, 187 touchdowns and 196 interceptions while playing for Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Denver and San Francisco.

“Steve has been a close friend since our days with the 49ers 15 years ago, so this was a difficult decision,� Coach Sam Wyche said. “However, Craig Erickson has established himself as a starting-caliber quarterback, and we believe it is time for Casey Weldon to assume the full-time backup role.�

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Veteran safety Erik McMillan, who appeared in six of seven games this season after being signed as a free agent in April, was waived by the Philadelphia Eagles.

McMillan was the defensive rookie of the year in 1988 with the New York Jets. After several disagreements with Jet Coach Bruce Coslet after McMillan was demoted in 1991, McMillan signed with the Eagles.

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The Chiefs hope to know within the next day or two whether hobbled quarterback Joe Montana will be ready for Monday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

But the signs aren’t good.

“He certainly is not probable,� Coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “I think there’s a definite possibility he will not be available.�

The hamstring that Montana re-injured Sunday in a 30-10 loss at Miami put him on crutches for the first time and could signal a lengthy rehabilitation.

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Phoenix Cardinal owner Bill Bidwill isn’t ruling out firing Coach Joe Bugel and General Manager Larry Wilson before the end of the season.

Bidwill said in January that their jobs depended on producing at least nine Cardinal victories. After two consecutive 4-12 seasons, the Cardinals are 2-6 with eight games to go and many of their players injured.

The team said rookie running back Garrison Hearst underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday and is sidelined for the season.

As for Bugel and Wilson, “decisions will be made when I think they’re appropriate,� Bidwill told The (Phoenix) Arizona Republic and the suburban Mesa Tribune.

Bidwill would not say when he would decide their future and would not evaluate the coaching staff’s performance. He said he was disappointed but remained optimistic.