THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DAVIE, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins released offensive lineman Steve McKinney on Monday, three months after he signed as a free agent.

McKinney had been competing for playing time at guard and as a backup to centre Samson Satele.

The six-foot-four, 302-pound McKinney was a starter in each of his first eight NFL seasons. But after struggling in 2005 he became a part-time centre for Houston.

Last season, he started the Texans' first three games before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and missed the rest of the season.