Just CHILL: Hamlin and Adams have been released

Clarence Hill 

 

The Cowboys have released veteran tackle Flozell Adams and veteran safety Ken Hamlin. They made the moves offical with an email within the last hour.

 

Owner Jerry Jones has released a statement regarding both players.

On Adams:

"We will always be grateful for his outstanding durability, dependability and contributions to this team.  I don’t know that you could ask for any more than what Flozell Adams gave to the Dallas Cowboys for 12 seasons."

On Hamlin:

"Ken Hamlin was a key contributor on a defensive unit that helped the Cowboys win two division championships in his three seasons with the team.  He is a smart player who was valuable to us in playing the role of the quarterback in the secondary.  We appreciate what he brought to this team—and this defense—as a solid player and a competitor."

Hamlin initially announced the news via his Twitter account:

"I would like to say to all of my fans that I appreciate all the love that you have showed me in Dallas. It was a good run..... Thanks"

Hamlin's agent Kennard McGuire said his client got the news from the Cowboys early Friday morning. He said there are no hard feelings and they are looking forward to testing the free-agent market.

Adams' agent Jordan Woy was informed of the somewhat surprising news this morning by the Cowboys.

"I asked them at the beginning of March if they were going to do it because we would rather they do it now

rather than waiting," Woy said. "They didn't get back to me with an answer. Of course they didn't say 'don't worry' either. So I knew it was a possibility. It's not out of left field. But today was the first time I knew about it."

 

Hamlin was released after three years with the team. He had Pro Bowl season in 2007, resulting a $39 million contract extension. His numbers and production have declined in the two years since.

 

Adams was the longest tenured Cowboys player and a mainstay on the offensive line since being picked in the second round of the 1998 draft. He too received a contract extension following the 2007 season when received a six-year, $43 million extension.

 

Woy believes the decisions were rooted in money. This being an uncapped year, teams can get out from under contracts without any punitive damage.

Hamlin was scheduled to make $5.596 million this year.

Adams was scheduled to make a $5 million base salary with a $2.5 million roster bonus due in June.

That's a total savings of roughly $13 million in real money for owner Jerry Jones.

This brings the upcoming in NFL Draft more into focus as the Cowboys will most certainly nab an offensive tackle and a safety early in the proceedings with one possibly coming at No. 27 in the first round.

The Cowboys have had three top safeties in for predraft visits this week including Chad Jones of LSU, Nate Allen of South Florida and Morgan Burnett of Georgia Tech. Of course they would jump on Texas' ball hawking safety Earl Thomas if he fell to them at 27.

The only tackles the Cowboys brought for pre-draft visits this week were UMass offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse and Ole Miss guard/tackle John Jerry -- neither are considered first round picks.

Several other tackles also might be available at No. 27. Anthony Davis of Rutgers, Charles Brown of USC and Bruce Campbell of Maryland have all been linked to the Cowboys as possible first-round selections via various mock drafts.
 

Comments

[Dallas Cowboys tickets]

Cowboys, believe us!
We always like you,
Whether attend your games,
Or on TV we watch you.
You’re our great team!
Wish to see you,
In any game that take place,
Our love is that of Romeo.
However how pricy are tickets!
We got’ em in Ticketpolice.com

[DesparatelyNeedAnotherSB]

SS are pretty easy to find, but a good left tackle? Predicting some regret on that decision.

[Bob]

Adams cost the Cowboys more yards than he helped gain. His off-side penalties were a joke in the NFL. I don't see he getting a job with anyother team.

[jack2]

Good Luck Flo! it was a bad move, he still had another good year left, they don´t seem to remember the year he was hurt, big mistake!

[SEAN]

Yep, that Adams spot is going to be hard to fill for a while hope they have someone that can consistantly protect at that position.

[Texas Annie]

$5 mil a year-- they only work 2/3 of the year-- where can I sign up??

[David]

Glad Flo is gone and his offside penalties leave too.

[regmac]

Bad move! Flo may be slow and lazy but he is hard to replace.