LB Hambrick, CB Larrimore released

The Dallas Cowboys released starting linebacker Darren Hambrick and cornerback Kareem Larrimore on Tuesday.

“This is just the way we wanted to go here,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. “There are a variety of things that would come into consideration, not one incident or one thing. It could be cumulative.”

This leads to the opinion that the two players, who had been at odds with the owner and coaches this past off-season and training camp, were released for reasons other than their play.

When asked, Jones would not elaborate. His only comment was that the two players did not fit into the future of where they wanted to go as a football team.

This is just the latest in a shape-up that the Cowboys have begun. Three weeks ago, the team released receiver and punt returner specialist Wane McGarity.

According to head coach Dave Campo, the team entertained offers for the two starters before today’s trade deadline, but none came. The Cowboys then game them their release.

Campo also made reference to a non-football reason for the release.

“Sometimes you make a decision based on the timing of whether or not you can get a trade for somebody,” said Campo. “That's part of it. You also make decisions based on cumulative, effective things. Sometimes things just wear out.”

Hambrick balked at the Cowboys’ minimum offer in the off-season that netted him a contract worth $512,000. He felt he was worth more and stated so, initially declining to sign the offer sheet. But he eventually signed the contract after no teams expressed interest in him.

He missed two of three mini-camps –one before and one after signing his new deal. They were voluntary but the other veterans showed up. Campo demoted Hambrick to second-string for this and put in rookie draft choice Marcus Steele into the first-string rotation.

Steele will replace Hambrick in the starting lineup. Either Duane Hawthorne or Pat Dennis will start in Larrimore’s place. Hawthorne has excelled in NFL Europe and Dennis was recently signed after being released by the Chiefs.

Larrimore’s situation is clearer. He was suspended from the final preseason game and the first regular season game and fined for missing curfew when the team traveled to Mexico City to play the Raiders in the American Bowl.

Reports have surfaced that Larrimore had been fined at least 11 other times for being late to practices, practice or team meetings.

Jones also indicated that based on performances, more changes could be forth coming.