On Monday, the Dallas Cowboys cut ties with free agent acquisition Brodney Pool. The eight-year veteran safety was signed in the offseason with the hope of him bolstering a perennially dismal Cowboys secondary.
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Unfortunately, Pool’s inability to participate at the start of training camp due to a failed conditioning test did not sit well with the Cowboys coaches. When he was finally able to pass the test, he was forced to see reps with the second team defense.
The move is a surprising one from a franchise known for cutting its players some slack. Pool did not get such kind treatment though, and it’s fair to assume Barry Church’s strong camp performance thus far did not help Pool’s cause.
The decision to cut Pool has to be a positive sign for Cowboys fans, as it sends a clear message that America’s Team is in it to win it this season. If a player cannot help the team in any manner, they have no place on the roster. Pool’s carelessness in regards to coming to camp in shape cost him his job and saved the Cowboys a potential headache going forward this season.
The Cowboys have won just two playoff games since winning the Super Bowl in 1996, only one of which occurred in this century. For an owner as hard-pressed to succeed as Jerry Jones is, the 69-year-old is intent on winning now perhaps more so than he has in quite some time.
Jerry Jones’s desire to “beat the New York Giants’ ass” certainly isn’t going to happen with lazy, unprepared players on his roster.
“As we went forward with the offseason and the early part of camp, we just didn’t think it was a good fit for our team right now,” Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said Monday, via ESPNDallas.com’s Calvin Watkins. “We feel good about how the young guys have stepped up into roles. We like the competition we have there. We’ll see how it goes once we play in the preseason games.”
Pool signed a one-year contract worth $1.2 million, but only $100,000 of that was guaranteed, saving the Cowboys $1.1 million against the cap this season.
Louis Musto writes on the NFC East, NFL in general and pop culture at GridironGrit.com. Follow @LouisMusto and @GridironGrit on Twitter!
