Sports shorts: Cardinals release LB Dockett

The move gives Dockett, 33, the chance to find out his fair-market value before the free agency signing period begins March 10. He could wind up re-signing with Arizona, his only team in 11 NFL seasons.

General manager Steve Keim said the Cardinals “have been very clear about our feelings for Darnell and our desire to have him back.” Dockett missed all of last season after tearing his right MCL in training camp. Before the injury, he had missed only two games during his NFL career.

• Cleveland signed quarterback Josh McCown, 35, who went 1-10 as Tampa Bay’s starter last year. It likely means the Browns will not re-sign Brian Hoyer. Whether McCown starts or is a mentor to Johnny Manziel or another QB draft pick is unclear.

• Other players released Friday included Miami receivers Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson, Atlanta WR Harry Douglas and guard Justin Blalock, Washington defensive linemen Stephen Bowen and Barry Cofield, Minnesota guard Charlie Johnson, Cincinnati DE Robert Geathers and WR Greg Little, and Baltimore DE Chris Canty.

• Chicago agreed to a one-year contract extension with TE Zach Miller.

• A report commissioned by the developer of a downtown Los Angeles football stadium warns that a rival project in Inglewood could be a potential terrorist target because of its proximity to L.A. International Airport.

Auto racing

On a roll, Logano grabs Atlanta pole

HAMPTON, Ga. — Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano won the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway after a qualifying session in which 13 drivers didn’t get on the track after failing to pass inspection.

Among those who were stuck in the paddock Friday evening: former champions Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart. Gordon, who is retiring at the end of the year, called the situation “embarrassing” for the sport.

At least those four will be in the race based on their points from last season. That wasn’t the case for Mike Wallace, Matt DiBenedetto, Michael Annett and Reed Sorenson, who were bumped out of the 43-car field without driving a lap.

Logano led the final session of qualifying with a speed of 194.683 mph.

• Travis Kvapil had to withdraw from this weekend’s race even before qualifying after learning his No. 44 Sprint Cup car was stolen from a hotel parking lot near Atlanta Motor Speeway. Police searched Friday for the $250,000 car, owned by small-budget Team XTREME.

“(My team) said there was trouble with the car. I thought we could figure it out in the garage area. They’re like, ‘No, the car is gone.’”

• Kyle Busch was released from the hospital following surgery on his left foot after breaking it during a crash at Daytona.

University of Arizona

Diver Pickens is Pac-12 runner-up

UA diver Samantha Pickens finished second Friday in the 3-meter final at the Pac-12 women’s swimming and diving championships in Seattle.

Pickens had 352.95 points as the Wildcats sat in fourth place going into Saturday’s action.

• In women’s tennis, host Arizona beat UNLV 6-1, with UA’s Briar Preston rallying to win her No. 2 singles match 1-6, 6-2, 6-1.

• UA women’s golfer Wanasa Zhou, playing as an amatur in the Symetra Tour’s Volvik Championship, had an even-par 72 in the first round in Beaumont, California. ... UA’s Andrea Vilarasau and Natalia Forero shot a 2-over 74 and are tied for 11th at the Red Rocks Invitational in Sedona.

Miscellaneous

Vandy to handle coach’s outburst

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams says coach Kevin Stallings’ outburst after the Commodores’ win at Tennessee was “unfortunate” and he will handle the issue internally.

How Stallings will be disciplined is unclear after he apologized Thursday for yelling obscenities at his guard Wade Baldwin IV, who clapped in the face of a Vols player.

• UTEP coach Tim Floyd was suspended for a game by Conference USA for failing to leave the court quickly after being ejected in a loss at Louisiana Tech for two technicals.

• Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber says he is still hopeful the season will start on time, even as the league and its players head into the last week of camp without a collective bargaining agreement.

• Manchester United could be without its key striker after Robin van Persie was ruled out for a “long time.” He suffered a foot injury in a loss at Swansea last week.

•The Astana team of Tour de France champ Vincenzo Nibali appears set to lose its license to compete this year for not honoring promises with anti-doping measures, said the UCI, or international cycling body.