Receiver Tyree among players cut by the Giants

David Tyree has gone from Super Bowl hero to unemployed hero.

Tyree was released by the New York Giants on Saturday in the final cutdown that also featured a late trade, with backup tight end Michael Matthews, another Super Bowl veteran, being shipped to the New England Patriots for a conditional draft pick.

Tyree sat out last season after injuring his hamstring while coming back from off-season knee surgery. The 29-year-old wide receiver battled minor groin, hamstring and knee injuries in training camp this year and played only two exhibition games.

“It’s obviously a time of mixed feelings,� Tyree said Saturday. “This is part of the journey. It’s not like it’s a great day. But at the same time, I’m filled with expectations about what’s next on this track, and I’m excited, as well.�

Tyree made one of the most remarkable catches in Super Bowl history when the Giants defeated the previously unbeaten New England Patriots in 2008.

With the Giants trailing, 14-10, late in the fourth quarter and faced with a third and five, Tyree hauled in a 32-yard pass from Eli Manning, pinning the ball against his helmet as defender Rodney Harrison yanked him to the ground.

The play set up Manning’s winning touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress.

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Eagles and Vick

The Philadelphia Eagles put quarterback Michael Vick on the exempt/commissioner’s permission list.

The move allowed the Eagles to keep A.J. Feeley as their No. 3 quarterback. He has been the subject of trade rumors.

Vick will not be reinstated until the third game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs. He can’t practice with the team until he is put on the roster.

“We can do that at any time,� General Manager Tom Heckert said. “We could put him on as soon as tomorrow, or up until the third week. And he can do anything with the team, attend meetings, everything, except practice.�

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Trade winds

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded backup quarterback Luke McCown to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for an undisclosed pick in next year’s NFL draft.

McCown was beaten out for the Bucs starting job by Byron Leftwich. McCown is entering his sixth NFL season. He has made seven career starts for the Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns, compiling a 1-6 record.

Elsewhere, the New Orleans Saints acquired tight end David Thomas from the New England Patriots in exchange for a seventh-round draft choice in 2011, and the Green Bay Packers traded offensive lineman Tony Moll to the Baltimore Ravens for defensive back Derrick Martin.

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Booty gone

Former USC quarterback John David Booty made a poor throw at the worst possible time.

A day after having an interception returned for a touchdown in the exhibition finale against Dallas, Booty was among the final cuts for the Minnesota Vikings, leaving the team with Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels behind starter Brett Favre.

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Raiders cut Garcia

Quarterback Jeff Garcia, who was signed by Oakland in the off-season to push JaMarcus Russell and serve as a mentor to the former No. 1 overall draft pick, was among 22 players let go by the Raiders.

Garcia, 39, has 116 starts in 10 NFL seasons.

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Other cuts

Seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker Zach Thomas, 36, was released by the Chiefs after failing to appear in any exhibition games.

Thomas, a fifth-round pick by Miami in 1996, signed with the Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent after playing last season with Dallas.

Veteran running back Dominic Rhodes was released by the Buffalo Bills, who continued shaking up their offense a day after firing coordinator Turk Schonert.

Quarterback Joey Harrington was among the 22 players cut by the Saints.

Quarterback Brian Brohm was among 18 players cut by the Packers. Brohm once was considered a potential franchise quarterback during his college career at Louisville,

The Buccaneers cut kicker Matt Bryant and settled on entering the regular season with four quarterbacks.

Bryant was released even though his 83.1 field-goal rate in four seasons is the best in franchise history. He injured his right hamstring in practice last month and did not play in any exhibition games.

The Washington Redskins put Colt Brennan on injured reserve because of hip and hamstring injuries, and his competition for the job, Chase Daniel, was cut.

Brennan aggravated a nagging hamstring problem in Thursday night’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he also has been battling a previously undisclosed hip injury.